The tragic story of the ‘dream home’ next to Hollingworth Lake that’s never been lived in

Number 15, Lake Side, Littleborough, is arguably the ‘dream home’ – but it has never been lived in. 

The peculiar bungalow, which is situated on the western shore of Hollingworth Lake, Rochdale, was built in 1998 by pensioners Dr. Stephen Watkins and his wife Elizabeth, who wanted somewhere to relax after stressful working lives.

The couple never disclosed how much they spent on the building, but it included a bespoke library, so it can be assumed to be quite a substantial sum of money.

However, the house was never completed, and the dismal reason why has since been cited at Westminster as an example of what can go wrong for people who build their own homes.

To put it simply, the Watkins were unsatisfied with the quality of their home – a structural engineer would find weaknesses in the roof – and so left the house in its unfinished state as ‘evidence’.

The Watkins went on to spend two decades in vicious legal disputes – first with the firm that built the property, and then a lengthy battle with the National House Building Council (NHBC), with whom they had taken out a ‘Buildmark’ warranty and insurance policy.

The claim began in 2001, after three years of disagreements with the builders, and took over fifteen years to settle.

Finally, the claim, involving surveyors and the financial ombudsman, was settled and the sum paid out by the NHBC was enough to finish the property.

However, this wasn’t the end of the Watkins’ woes.

In December 2018, the couple found out that Rochdale council wanted to CPO (compulsory purchase order) the bungalow, which they say ‘detracts from its surroundings and spoils the outlook.’

And last year, it was revealed the CPO had been successful.

A planning application was submitted to knock down the bungalow, so they could build two new four to five bedroom detached houses on the site.

A planning statement read: “In 2019, the owners submitted a Pre-App to Rochdale Council – this pre-app was for the demolition of the existing bungalow and the construction of five town houses and one sheltered earth dwelling.

“The pre-app response stated that the proposals were not in keeping with the existing character of the area and represented an over-development of the site.”