SHOWPIECE IN THE LAKES
Mansion stands empty and appears neglected Guests for its posh B&B chasing £1k deposits Was for sale for £2.3m, then dropped to £1.45m
was intended to be the last season the property was to be offered as self-catering accommodation with a view to converting the property to affordable apartments.
“We have been looking into whether these bookings could be accommodated. Due to the nature of the bio-mass wood heating it does seem the house does not lend itself to self-catering with this system. If the electric back-up heater for the pool and heating fails it is unsatisfactory.
“With this in mind we are writing to guests to arrange refunds for the small number of bookings we have left.” Gaukroger and wife Milla told the Grand Designs show the whole project cost in excess of £1million.
They took out a £600,000 mortgage but had only another £100,000 in the bank when costs began to spiral.
They were relying on other business deals to finance the project but the economic climate worsened and the couple were left with a half-finished house.
Further problems saw them unable to pay creditors or the mortgage and a repossession order was issued. But after the house appeared on Grand Designs a woman offered them a loan. Gaukroger said: “She said it was clear this was my dream and she wanted to help.”
After completion the couple had to open part of the building as a bed and breakfast to earn cash to pay off the loan. They later changed it to self-catering.
When he put the property on the market last year Gaukroger said he was going to complete a postgraduate architectural qualification in London while building a new family home in Kent. He said: “We have a loan to pay that we don’t want hanging over our heads. We will never be able to replace this house.”
One guest who had stayed there wrote on Trip Advisor: “Total disappointment. No heating or hot water in half the house. The pool was not working. There was a leaking radiator and a faulty freezer.”
Another said: “Although the house is potentially an amazing property, it did not meet our expectations.”