Season 4
7 episodes
46 min. per episode
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A city dweller risks everything to transform a crumbling farmhouse, battling doubt and nature while chasing a dream of belonging.
Episodes
Ian and Rebecca Shevling's high flying careers meant that they saw very little of each other so a change in lifestyle was needed. They moved from Wolvey in Warwickshire to Holmfirth in West Yorkshire to convert a rundown Grade II listed farmhouse and barn into a modern family home. With help from Rebecca's nearby parents they also plan to establish a vineyard with around 7,000 vines. The house cost them half a million pounds and with a budget of up to £90,000 will they manage to complete their dream home as well as produce a hoped for 30,000 bottles of wine each year.
Dave and Caroline Taylor and their three children are moving from Thornbury near Bristol to the Brecon Beacons in search of a rural adventure. Their dream is to convert an old stone barn into a family home and holiday annex, as well as becoming self sufficient. They bought the property for £275,000 and with 5 acres of land available to them they have the scope to set up a smallholding. Charlie Luxton follows the family's progress as they attempt to live the dream on their budget of up to £150,000.
Ian and Elpi Greenhalgh want to move to the countryside so they have relocated from their Wigan housing estate to the rural village of Bretherton and have bought an 18th-century windmill which they plan to convert into a dream family home. The windmill cost them £490,000 and Ian has to continue to work long hours in order to pay for the mortgage and the build, whilst Elpi deals with contractors and suppliers. Charlie Luxton follows the family's progress.
Charlie Luxton meets Stuart and Claire Woodhouse who want to start a new life with their family in the Kent countryside where they spent their childhood. They have bought a 1959 derelict industrial sawmill which they plan to turn into a grand family home with views over the Kent countryside. It cost them £200,000 and they hope to secure an £80,000 mortgage to pay for the renovation work. With a small budget and in order to keep costs down they plan to do most of the work themselves.
Well travelled couple Darren and Mel Young want to leave busy Norwich and put down roots in the tranquil countryside village of Loddon in the Norfolk Broads. They have bought a derelict 19th century barn and annex for £235,000 and hope to sell the annex for £150,000 to fund their project of creating a modern home, all whilst working full time. However due to the UK wide property slump and recession they are struggling to sell the annex, which has a real knock on effect on their budget.
Presented by architectural designer Charlie Luxton, Build A New Life follows people leaving the rat-race of the city in pursuit of new lifestyles and new homes in the countryside. The dream houses they are creating are inspiring, architecturally challenging and are all undertaken with a modest budget.