A home featured on Channel 4's Grand Designs is at risk of falling into the ocean following a significant landslip. The property, named Cefn Castell, is a £1.3 million award-winning clifftop house in Criccieth, Gwynedd, which appeared on the show in 2014.
The owners have submitted a planning application for cliff stabilisation works, stating that erosion poses an 'immediate threat' to the stability of the home's entryway. The landslip occurred in February 2024, caused by a land drain on adjacent land that had been channeling water onto the cliff face.
The documents note that a boundary wall is now overhanging the cliff, and the cliff face is 'prone to erosion and rockfalls,' posing a risk to the property, coastline, and public safety. Proposed measures include rock nailing, gabions, and rock revetment to secure the home and a nearby coastal path.
The property was built by former owners Rob and Kay Hodgson, who used stone from a 400-year-old cottage on the site. It later featured in I'm A Celebrity in 2021. The owners argue the home has contributed significantly to the local economy as a rental property and tourist landmark.
In 2019, Rob Hodgson told Wales Online that experts had predicted the home's lifespan at around 140 years, and that only about 10cm of cliff had been lost at that time. He acknowledged the cliff issue was a focus of the Grand Designs episode but said the cliff 'hasn't moved' significantly.
