A HOME on the East Essex coast ready to "resist the rising tides" was featured in this week's Grand Designs.

Property owner Geoff Wood decided to sell up his luxury villa in Spain where he lived for more than 20 years, with plans to build a flood resistant property beside the Blackwater Estuary.

As his dream site was a flood plain planners insisted any house built there needed to be flood resistant.

His daring design required "significant" amounts of engineering, including heavyweight concrete and steel piles drilled 14 metres deep to keep the house anchored to the ground.

These piles connect to an industrial strength steel frame and the house is raised 4.5m above the ground – high enough to protect it from rising tides.

The 64-year-old from East London is a first time self-builder but told the Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud: "I love the stress. I'm looking forward to it."

The ground floor consists of a utility area and a garage, while the upstairs houses an open-plan living room and kitchen leading to a balcony with views stretching out across the estuary.

Three bedrooms also benefit from these views and have their own en-suite bathrooms, and there was even room for a study.

Solar tiles help power the 'floating' Maylandsea home.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: The dramatic self-build. Photo: Channel 4The dramatic self-build. Photo: Channel 4

Geoff had a budget of up to £700,000 to build the cantilevered house, and didn't go over it.

Kevin said: "This house is dramatic and resilient. A radical heavy duty response to the threat of our changing climate."

After selling his Spanish home, and while waiting for his new build to be ready, Geoff lived in a caravan on the site.

Geoff's Grand Designs home is mostly complete, and watertight, he's only waiting to finish the balcony - but Covid did cause some setbacks along the way.

He said: "You know, Covid has caused so many problems. With supply...and it's just screwed everything.

"To get this far has been nothing short of a miracle."

You can watch Geoff's journey, and all the Grand Designs episodes, on All 4 online at channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs.