Former council house transformed into luxury holiday home you can rent for £7K a week
A former council house has been transformed into one of Britain's most luxurious holiday homes, costing more than £7k a week to rent.
The stunning beachfront property, known as The Sunset House, bears very little resemblance to the run down council pad that once stood in its place.
Formerly owned by Devon and Cornwall Housing, the house offered gorgeous views of the coastline, sitting right above Porthmeor beach in St Ives, Cornwall, but was in near derelict condition when it was sold four years ago.
But that didn't stop one buyer spotting its potential, snapping up the house for £1,440,000, way over the £625,000 guide price.
The new owners have since demolished the original building and rebuilt a stunning property, making the most of the prime location.
While they plan to use it as a retirement home in future, it has now been listed as a fancy holiday let.
Cornish Gems is offering the accommodation for up to eight guests with four sea view ensuite bedrooms at a price which peaks at £7,395 for a week's stay, and £2,624 for a two-night break between November to March.
The planning application for the new house was submitted on behalf of current owners Mr and Mrs Harris, and was approved by Cornwall Council.
The couple said in replacing the existing building they wanted to provide an "overall visual improvement, reflecting the special character of St Ives".
The new owners demolished the existing property in 2019 and in its place built what has been described as a modern day beach house with "understated luxury".
"I’ve always wanted to retire back home in Cornwall and when I saw the derelict house for sale, I thought it was an opportunity too good to miss," Mr Harris added.
"Whilst my financial investment may not make sense from a business perspective, I’m comfortable with how much it has cost.
"For me this has been a hugely personal project, to create a very special retirement home.
"When I move into the property it will be removed from the rental market. Meanwhile, it makes financial sense to make the house available for holidays and save it from sitting empty, helping to support independent local businesses and the Cornish tourism economy.”
Watch: Staycation surge hikes up cost of seaside holiday lets.
Commenting on the house's transformation Philippa Snell, head of sales and marketing at Cornish Gems, said: "We feel honoured to have a window of opportunity to share Sunset House for luxury holidays, before the owner retires to their forever home.
"The transformation, which has been over three years in the making, has been overseen by specialist local contractors and architects working hand-in-hand with the Cornish family.
"The house with four en-suite bedrooms occupies a unique vantage point location, elevated above Porthmeor beach and comes complete with beautifully appointed interiors and high-spec amenities - offering a truly one-of-a-kind, luxury home with a reflective price point.
"Since going live on our website on 6 May, we’ve already secured some bookings and expect more interest to follow when the full gallery of images is available shortly.
"We anticipate those guests who chose to stay, while Sunset House is available via Cornish Gems, will be just as mesmerised as we were when stepping foot inside – it is breathtakingly beautiful."
Additional reporting SWNS.
