A millionaire has demolished what has been described as the 'world's most expensive bungalow' to make way for a new eco-friendly home. Tom Glanfield, 48, purchased the £13.5 million property on Dorset's Sandbanks resort, often referred to as millionaire's row, in March 2023. He intended to tear down the Edwardian cottage and replace it with a modern family eco-home.
Planning Battle and Approval
Planners initially recommended that his application be refused, arguing that the demolition would cause 'significant harm' to the Sandbanks Conservation Area. After two years of negotiations, Mr. Glanfield finally received permission to demolish the property in July 2025. Demolition began in May 2026, and after two weeks, the building has been completely flattened. The old house was crushed to form the foundations for the new build.
Recycling the Old House
Mr. Glanfield expressed relief at the demolition, stating, 'It's such a relief to have it demolished finally, and it's really cool because we recycled the old house by crushing it up and turning it into the foundations of the new house.' He added, 'Everybody keeps asking me if I miss my old house, but it never actually left the property. It's quite nostalgic that the old house is being used to make the new one. I'm really excited to get it started and make something that Poole can be proud of.'
Not a Property Developer
In a planning meeting in July 2025, the self-made millionaire insisted he was not a property developer and was not 'flipping the bungalow for profit.' He stated, 'I am very much a family man who is trying to make a family home. I will probably die in that home.' Mr. Glanfield noted that the bungalow had a leaking roof, mould, and mildew. His plans involve transforming the site into a sustainable, two-storey eco home for his family.
Eco-Friendly Features
The entrepreneur said the new build will feature renewable power and a desalination facility. A 'crumbling' sea wall, currently deemed 'unsafe,' will also be enhanced and restructured. He commented, 'My dream is to build a family home that will not only retain the modest beauty of the plot but will also stand the test of time.'
Community Support
Mr. Glanfield received significant backing from the local community, with 38 letters of support submitted to the council. Among them was neighbour Ros Smart, who described the plans as an 'outstandingly innovative design for an iconic site.' However, planners argued the proposal should be refused on conservation grounds, suggesting that alternative options involving the retention of the cottage could have been explored.
Planning officer Babatunde Aregbesola told the meeting that the existing building was considered very important to the Sandbanks Conservation Area due to its age, which he described as 'very early Edwardian, one of the oldest in the area.' Mr. Glanfield is working on the development with local architect firms Marlow and Arc, as well as award-winning landscape designer Andy Sturgeon.
