Kevin McCloud, 66, is a British designer, writer and television presenter who grew up in Bedfordshire. He has presented the Channel 4 series Grand Designs since its debut in 1999. He now lives in Herefordshire with his wife, Jenny Jones, a businesswoman. He has four children from previous relationships.
I feel sorry for anyone who’s trying to buy a home — not just young people. I bought a two-bedroom house in Dulwich in 1996 for £60,000, which seemed like a lot of money at the time. But now it would be £1.2 million and nobody can afford that. Back in the day, a house cost three or four times what you were earning a year. Now, in central London and the home counties, a house is up to 14 times the average income.
The entire housing market is controlled by a few extremely powerful companies. They’re a potent lobbying force who are focused on one thing alone — delivering returns to shareholders. It means we end up paying some of the highest prices in Europe for our housing stock, which is of the poorest quality in Europe.
McCloud in the first series of Grand Designs, broadcast in 1999
CHANNEL 4
