This episode, airing on ABC TV on Thursday 27 June, follows Kevin McCloud as he revisits Jon and Noreen, who, back in 2013, set out to build a giant three-bedroom treehouse in Gloucestershire, England.
Jon and Noreen’s ambitious plan was to construct a ‘3 box’ design, featuring a steel frame anchored to slender screw piles to protect the tree roots, with a mirror glass ground floor reflecting the surrounding trees. Their budget of £250k seemed ambitious given the complex engineering and inclusion of a ceramic workshop and an artist’s studio.
The couple moved into a cabin on-site, aiming to complete the build within nine months. However, they faced significant delays in finalising structural drawings, leaving them disheartened. After an eight-month wait, they resumed construction, driven by their emotional connection to the town. Despite their hard work and support from local friends, by 2016, the house was only just habitable, and their funds had depleted, leaving many rooms unfinished.
Now, seven years on, Kevin McCloud returns to see if this unique treehouse home is finally complete and to discover the realities of life in this unusual setting.
Grand Designs UK Revisits airs Thursday, 27 June 2024 at 9.00pm on ABC TV.
