A MARRIED couple’s adventurous project to build their perfect home in a secluded area of Billericay saw them star on primetime television show Grand Designs.

After ex-Brentwood School teacher Michelle Parsons beat cancer, it was carpe diem after agreeing with husband and architect David to build their dream home.

Finding the perfect plot in Norsey Wood two years ago, the bunker-style hideaway took 12 months to build, with the Channel 4 crew following their story from June 2015, and filming every three weeks.

Mrs Parsons, an ex-Brentwood School teacher and artist said the process was stressful, but helped it helped inspire the duo to build the sleek, black-clad, three bedroom home com - plete with a studio.

She continued: “It is nice to have a memory of the build.

“It is a whole new lifestyle and I can work from my studio. It is very peaceful.”

Mrs Parsons’ desire for privacy, which led to a radical decision to eliminate windows from the front of the house, perplexed presenter Kevin McCloud. “It looks like a bunker on the outside and it feels like a bunker on the inside at the moment,” he said grimly halfway through the build.

Torrential rain and a potentially disastrous gas leak did not deter the couple, who project managed the build with a £230,000 budget.

The end result – several black cubes joined together with roof lights and a sedum roof - a million miles away from conventional architecture.

Grand Designs was featured on Channel 4 at 9pm on Wednesday (Octo - ber 12).