When the latest episode of Grand Designs aired on Channel 4, locals in the quiet Warwickshire village of Wixford gathered in the community hall, wine glasses in hand, ready to watch history unfold.
They were about to witness the unveiling of Britain’s first newly built castle in more than a hundred years — a modern, eco-friendly fortress named Alcester Castle.
But as the structure appeared on screen, admiration quickly gave way to disbelief.
Instead of seeing a fairy-tale fortress rise above the countryside, many villagers saw something far less romantic — a building they compared to a “multi-storey car park” or even a “prison.”
The Ambitious Project Behind the Controversy
The castle, perched on a hilltop in the heart of Shakespeare country, was the vision of entrepreneur Piers and his wife Emma, a police officer.
They set out to construct a sustainable family home inspired by history but powered by modern technology.
Built from recycled materials and designed with features like photovoltaic roof slates, air-source heat pumps, and a wind turbine, the project was intended to be as close to carbon-neutral as possible.
It stood on the site of an old 18th-century folly known locally as the White Castle, which had long fallen into ruin.
But while the couple’s dream home promised a mix of heritage and innovation, its brutalist square tower and block-like structure proved divisive — even before the first stone was laid.
Local Reactions: “It Looks Like a Car Park”
For many residents, the final reveal confirmed their worst fears.
Jo Broadrick, 63, shared that the viewing party in the village hall was lively but full of mixed feelings.
“Some people say it looks like a prison, most say it’s a car park,” she laughed.
“We all brought a bottle of wine, made a night of it — but there were gasps when the £7.5 million price tag came up.”
That staggering cost was a particular point of shock. Many villagers couldn’t believe how much money had been poured into a project they felt had little aesthetic or community value.
“A Vanity Project” or “Architectural Statement”?
While some residents saw it as an architectural statement, others weren’t nearly as charitable.
One longtime villager — who preferred not to be named — called it a “vanity project” and went as far as comparing the structure to Nazi-era Atlantic Wall bunkers built during World War II.
“It’s the most vainglorious thing I’ve ever seen,” they said.
“A total waste of resources — something that benefits no one. It’s not a castle, it’s a folly.”
Grand Designs Host Left Stunned by Rising Costs
Even Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud, known for celebrating bold architecture, appeared taken aback.
During filming, he told the couple, “You’d have to be out of your mind to build something like this,” after hearing how their initial £2 million budget had spiraled to nearly £7.5 million.
The show revealed that Piers had to sell several businesses and even mortgage other properties just to keep the project alive.
Four years after breaking ground, the castle still isn’t complete — and the family currently lives in a nearby barn while construction continues.
Questions Over Planning Permission
Some villagers are also questioning how the castle received approval in the first place.
John Clarke, 78, a retired builder, said bluntly:
“It looks like a car park. I don’t know how he got planning permission. Piers was on the parish council once — maybe that helped.”
Others echoed his sentiment, suggesting the structure doesn’t match the plans they were originally shown.
Sonia King, 82, remarked,
“It’s awful. Not what we were promised. I’d walk up there to take a closer look, but I’d probably have a heart attack!”
Her husband, Clifford, 88, was slightly more sympathetic:
“It looked a bit better on TV. I do feel sorry for them, though — they must have poured everything into it.”
A Divided Village
Not everyone is against the project. A few residents have found beauty in its boldness.
Retired firefighter Chris Broadrick was one of the few to speak positively:
“It certainly makes a statement. If I had the money, I’d buy it myself. I think it’s great.”
Meanwhile, Carol Hammond, 82, compared it to historic ruins rather than modern monstrosities.
From her garden, she said, the castle resembles Middleham Castle in North Yorkshire — though she still admitted it reminded her husband more of a concrete car park.
What Comes Next for Alcester Castle?
With construction still unfinished and locals deeply divided, the story of Alcester Castle is far from over.
For some, it stands as a daring symbol of modern ambition — proof that sustainability and grandeur can coexist.
For others, it’s a concrete scar on a picturesque landscape that will never truly fit in.
Either way, it’s hard to deny that this unusual fortress has already made history — and left the quiet village of Wixford with something it will be talking about for years to come.