Grand Designs couple built one of UK's cheapest homes for just £27,000 but it ended in disaster
The Dale family once appeared on Grand Designs with their fantastic home and were hailed as being ‘role models’ to follow for their sustainable creation.
The couple created a Pembrokeshire eco-house, which looked magnificent - however, the project wasn’t meant to be.
In the end, it was a total disaster when a house fire destroyed their new home.
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The house - which was called one of the 'cheapest' homes because it cost just £27,000 to build- was created by Simon and Jasmine Dale.
The couple used entirely reclaimed materials, which included straw, timber, and even glass.
It was so eco-conscious that it was insulated with sheep's wool.
The couple began the project, located in Pembrokeshire, with just £500. It took six years to build, but sadly, their dream came to a devastating end after it suffered a house fire.
The house ended up catching on fire due to the electrics, which left it in ruins.
It all began when a faulty electric heater sparked when Jasmine was home. Thankfully, the rest of the family and their two children were visiting family and didn’t have to go through the ordeal.
In a shocking twist, it was the family's second experience of a house fire, after their first home also burned to the ground.
“We’re still in complete shock, I can’t say how I feel. But we know the feeling, our first home burnt down so we have been here before I suppose," Jasmine told The Telegraph at the time.
“We’re trying to hope that this will be a blessing in disguise and we have received so much love, but we know we won’t be able to recreate this home.
“The fire was caused by a freak electrical fault. I was in the house just a few moments before the fire broke out, and there is a junction box downstairs with many electrical wires."
Dai Swan, group manager for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, explained that the straw material used on the property made it even more difficult to extinguish the flames.
"It's utterly heartbreaking for the crews seeing how much workmanship has gone into these frames," he said.
"Each piece of this building is bespoke, it's done to a beautifully high standard and to see it damaged by fire is just heartbreaking."
The couple have said they will always miss the property and the 'wonderful' local people.
Simon explained that they 'didn't have it in [them]' to try and rebuild it again.
He told WalesOnline: "We decided we didn't have it in us to rebuild that house in a way that would fit our children, now 14 and 15."
The Dales put the site up for sale for £290,000 in 2019. The sale included new planning consent for a four-bedroom eco-property.
Topics: Channel 4, Grand Designs, TV
Britt Jones