MONEY PIT
Grand Designs couple spent 16 years and £1million on secret ‘earth shelter’
Fred and Saffron Baker embarked on their quest in the Derbyshire hills more than a decade and a half ago and have had two children in that time
A COUPLE who bought a £100,000 old dairy have spent £1million and 16 years turning it into their "secret earth shelter".
Fred and Saffron Baker embarked on their quest more than a decade and a half ago and have had two children in that time.
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The couple have suffered a failed mortgage bid, spiralling costs and the hostile Derbyshire weather during the build.
They even had to deal with 30 degree slope in their effort to erect their dream home.
The Bakers shared their story with Grand Designs last night, astonishing host Kevin McCloud.
Their "forever" home was built from heat-retaining concrete by the request of ecologist Fred.
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This means it could be so efficient that they would have zero heating bills and could offset the carbon impact of using the concrete and steel beams in the build within five to ten years.
While the top level of the house looks like a small barn from the road, it disguises the two roomier levels that are dug deeper into the hill.
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