@@the_real_bin_chicken Great idea, even if they created several designs for the property owner to choose from, that way they could have a completely stone extension that would have been really nice.
John, Pete, Ron I totally agree with all three of you. Ive worked with "Heritage" committees before, and most of them believe they know best always and some times they don't. Ive always been so upset that they are NOT clear with their expectations at the onset of any type of historical restoration.
The final result of that tower has to be one of the worst abominations i've ever seen on this programme, absolutely shocking that the planners thought that would look acceptable. Half stone tower half wooden beach hut...jeeez
Me personally I did like the idea that the stone was a different color from the tower it gave a very distinct separation of old and new. The stain that they put on that stone the age it just doesn’t look right. But the one thing that they should’ve freaking thrown out was that color!! I got physically sick and I’m not joking. Couldn’t go with the natural stain of some sort?
The owners should “pay tribute” to the people who threw out a series of vastly superior proposals and forced that abomination on them by putting their names on a building plaque and a few signs around the property with a few words of thanks which make clear the intent. Their names and “contributions” should live on in infamy. I think, though, the owners are too nice to do that.
The planning regulators are complete idiots. The plans that were put in before were so much better. These people drove the owners to the limit and the result is awful.
Wow. Big respect to host George for being respectfully straight-forward with his opinion about the project at the end, dropping all those hints. My eyes would have popped out on the site to see that restoration in place.
@@momsterous The tower was never going to be perfect, but the initial plans were much better. I think after 6 years of building that thing you'd be in a similar position.
Some of the plans that Barry had already submitted were much more sensible with keeping the original tower preserved. The board would rather see a historic place crumble than to see it restored. Shameful.
I suggest that the owners of that funny tower with the mobile home trailer type of extension plant a lot of climbing plants all around it. In a couple years all will be overgrown with evergreen foliage and the thing will be pleasant to look at for everybody.
I would put the blame on the heritage committee, they approved it! His first plan was a much nicer plan and was done in stone! Which was still sympathetic to the structure! When will people (the ones ON the committees) learn? Now the town is stuck with it although it probably would have been less noticeable if it was stone gray instead of bright light blue.
Totally agree bad workmanship. wrong order of work. poor design advice the result was so disappointing. though must be upsetting for nearby residents The weather will soon find out any weakness in the design. I think though that some buildings should not be touched four foot walls are difficult to keep warm! Instead planning should be be given to nearby residence firstly puting in order the monument for postwrity with small grant for upkeep.
The Scottish tower - one of the plans with the glass and steel covering for the entry is a lot less intrusive and way more aesthetic. I appreciate that the guy saved the tower. The blue architectural feature *can* be changed in the future, it's not that big a deal.
I thought the same thing. I don´t like the blue either but it can be changed. And all those people here complaining should think that the extension, in just a few decades (for sure less than a century) will inevitably disappear because of those materials used while the tower will continue to be there intact for a few more centuries.
As far as i can see, it's not only the people in the comment section complaining but also the people living nearby, the previous owner of the tower and the host himself. Compared to what it was and what it could be, it looks horrible, that's just a fact.
Shouldn’t be allowed to be sold “with planning permission” if 7 ideas over two owners are thrown out. I think it’s unfair of George to say the owner wasn’t the right person for it. The earlier designs were much better than the actual one signed off. It’s 100% down to Scottish heritage.
He is definitely right. Why do we always shy away from the truth. I am a fan of this programme and I was shock that this was even allowed. Integrity matters! These type of project are meant for certain people not for all.
I don't get English heritage, they're fine with letting a building crumble until there's nothing left but if someone wants to renovate the building they make it extremly hard and more expensive! Makes no sense
these people giving planning permission sounds like a bunch of idiots to me. one thing i have learned from these programs are not to buy old buildings.
Would probably be cheaper and easier to build a new "medieval style" building then to restore and convert original ones. You can take mire liberties with the interior design, accomodate modern amenities and don't need to worry about ruining the oroginal stonework.
When even George gets angry at a shotty restoration, you know it's awful! Who picked that colour? Shame on the planners and Scottish Heritage for not approving the previous plans!
It's garbage that they trap a person into ownership and then micromanage the entire project at the owner's risk and expense. It seems like they purposely juxtaposed these 2 projects together so people can see why they micromanage it so much.
Well...🤔...the "jutting obelisk" tower on the flat terrain now sports a Cape Cod bungalow "adhesion". I wonder where the flashing neon "Mates Motel" sign will be displayed. Certainly a glass dome on a beach gun bunker could not be worse...let her build it!
Would it have been so hard to put some rock - or even faux rock - on the addition? Why make it look like a typical middle-income house? Come on, show some small degree of respect for the building you're preserving. Kudos for wanting to restore the building for posterity, truly...but that upper part of the addition just doesn't fit, Barry.
I have never watched one of these before and I am truly so disappointed. The first drawing actually looked like it could have originally been part of the design, yet that was shot down? I almost died when the scene cut back in and showed that horrid monstrosity that I wouldn't even put on my trailer! So very, very sad.
I can’t believe that his plans were approved to do this to such a historical landmark. It looks terrible. The entrance area ( bottom) looks acceptable but the farmhouse add on is sad. Sorry Scotland ❤️ I feel for you
Yuck yuck yuck, what an 🤢 awful plan and restoration. What an eye sore. This makes me actually physically ill. To ruin such a extraordinary tower....is heartbreaking😫
It is the ugliest addition imaginable, (even worse than some of the earlier designs). Does not compliment the original tower in any way. Wonder how much it took to bribe those in charge of approving it? I feel sorry for the locals that have to look at it every day of their lives, while Barry and Fiona only go there occassionaly to recreate.
I can't believe that design was approved. I would think they would at least need to cover the exterior in stone so it didn't clash with the rest of the building.
I can’t believe that the Scottish planning board allowed THAT TERRIBLE addition to be added. The tower owners had no vision and no taste. Absolutely shameful all round.
Why that colour it looks like a caravan stuck to the side of the tower?? Why not natural timber that can age over time,looks terrible.The rest is fine.
I don’t understand Barry’s continual refusal to employ a local historical architect...it’s utter insanity. For the price they paid for refused plans they could have been well on the way to doing the restoration! 31 minutes through and Sarah’s grating badly...pouty and petulant when she cannot have things her own way, all she seems to want is to be known for ‘rescuing’ the martello tower! Ffs, seriously!!
What a shame for both locations. One with a spoiled brat who would rather let her tower rot if she can't get her way, and another who somehow got his tacky taste slip by the approval commission. They should get a refund and be exiled from the area.
As an American I don't understand British homes. All toys finish work would be a total tear out in just a normal home here. This is truly terrible work, I feel bad for these towers.
I think the only positive that can come out of this is that this episode should be played to all architecture students, and town planning students, up and down the country as an example of how not to do a restoration project.
I am flummoxed about why Planning did not go for the previous owner's first and very sympathetic restoration proposal--but they went with something that doesn't feel sympathetic at all. It boggles my mind. The interior made my heart break. Not at all in keeping with the building or the era.
i don't know why he wouldn't just build out buildings not connected to the original tower. build modern inside of period looking out buildings, like a court yard, make it look original, and save money
To much red tape among the political powers.... If these structures are on a threatened list, wouldn't it be more feasible and reasonable to allow the owners to save them,even if they do a basic modernization, and let the council receive the money from the taxes they're going to pocket anyway? The planning council in the UK seems to have "to many Chief's and not enough indians." If they offer these structures for sale, why would they care with what the owners would do with it?
There are towers in Delaware, and for 20 years I have dreamed of having one. The outcome here is shocking and disappointing. I don't know what these folks are thinking, but I just couldn't accept these under any circumstances. So sad.
I grew up in Saint John NH Canada.... we had a Martello tower there too... I didn't know that refered to a particular shape of a tower... I thought it was named after a person named Martello The tower is fully restored and used as a museum...
Happy that you got the go ahead to restore your tower. Just a thought.....with the addition, cob finish with beautiful rocks from your property, would have blended with the ancient tower. Love the show💜
It's a shame that people spend a small fortune on a piece of property, and the almighty government tells them what they can do with it! I absolutely understand preserving historic buildings, but sometimes the red tape is ridiculous!!!
What a terrible shame about the tower. The perfect addition would have been smaller replica towers to create the staircase and bottom structure. From a distance it would have looked like a collection of armaments with one huge one. Maybe a defensive wall to obscure a lower structure.
That woman was right about the planning commission head. He loves the buildings, but not the idea of people making much of a home out of them. The only plan he was willing to approve for Barry’s tower addition is like a one-person bedsit with a kitchenette. I’d imagine he’d had a very difficult time selling on because of the lack of space in width.
Hideous blue box!! What a useless planning dept. I agree he was not the right person to renovate this beautiful building. Their interior decor is underwhelming and boring. And that boxroom of a bathroom with the door which bangs on the sink is another folly.
The council makes no money from structures like these that are lying derelict - In fact it may end up costing them money to either make the buildings secure or to demolish them. To that end why not compromise and work with the owners to make them livable, and maybe even get some property taxes from them? It seems awful short sighted by the council that they would rather those building fall down than to work with the owners to help preserve them.
What an irritating pair of owners. A man with no sense of or respect for history who just wants what he wants, and a woman who’s never been told no in her life and thinks rules shouldn’t apply to her just because she’s posh. The most stressful episode of this series I’ve ever seen.
I think it's pretty safe to say that Sarah is still throwing tantrums because she can't have her glass extension. And seems to be oblivious to the fact that she hasn't saved it until she's done the restoration 😕.
Looks absolutely horrible. Can’t believe they got permission for that addition. The owners of these towers are thick in the head. If your going to save something historic understand that it’s not yours and you need to respect it for it’s historic value and work with it not against it.
George has so much patience. It's amazing how so many people buy historic buildings, yet have no idea how to convert them to modern living. The planning commission nixed the ideas the former owner had for the 700 yr. old tower, but approved the completed look of the tower as it stands now...Yikes! Makes no sense. Owner of The "Sleeping Giant" really isn't open minded.
"Amazed" isn't the word that occurred to me. HORRIFIED is the word I'd apply here! It is absolutely beyond belief that some complete idiots allowed (demanded???) this to be how this building was restored/improved. How TOTALLY ignorant and presumptuous. Who allowed this to occur and why? Watching this and seeing the result left me (and this is being CHARITABLE) DISGUSTED!!
Bravo! The new and old blend seamlessly together. The exterior vinyl siding wraparound creates steps to Heaven. Can I climb up? Bagpipes echo in these long, wild grasses, laddie, when the winds blow warm of summer. Aye.
