Grand designs, big problems

As the presenter of Grand Designs, Kevin McCloud entertains television viewers with his sharp judgments on other people's ambitions to build their dream home. Now his own vision to build a £19m micro-eco-town near Swindon, to demonstrate how smartly designed high-volume homes can be built at an affordable price, is suffering problems.

Building Design magazine, says the project is "in chaos" after he sacked his award-winning architects Wright & Wright because they would not share more of the financial risk. It also claims that McCloud's development company, Happiness, Architecture, Beauty (HAB), has lost two development partners, has yet to strike a deal with the local council and that the project has been hit by delays.

Sandy Wright, of Wright & Wright, accused McCloud of lacking the "financial muscle" for his vision and said: "They wanted us to do the work at risk. Kevin has made his name by putting projects under scrutiny and turning it into television. It’s his turn to take the stage."

McCloud admitted the firm had been dropped because "we just couldn’t get eye to eye over the contract" but he denied the other allegations. He told the Times: "We are far from chaotic and we are not in a catastrophic position. We have some of the most secure funding in the housing industry. I’m an easy target, aren't I? My judgment is: judge me when the project is finished. If my professional reputation is in tatters then I will walk away quietly and become a taxi driver."