Britons taking up grand designs – but not for cash

One third of Britons making home improvements do so not for financial reasons but just to improve the look of their homes, it has been suggested.

The research, published today by Saga, suggests that the main thing homeowners are taking from TV shows like Grand Designs is an appreciation of the cosmetic appeal of homes and the latest property 'fashions'.

But one person who won't be doing up their home in the near future is in fact Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, who has told the Times that it's repairs rather than renovations that take up most of his time.

"The older I get the more I like the home I live in: the last thing I want is to get the builders in. I can think of nothing I would change, although with a house with bits that are 15th and 16th-century, you are always doing repairs," he told the newspaper.

Saga, meanwhile, has said that if any more willing homeowners do decide to make improvements they should make sure that they notify their insurer – otherwise they run the risk of invalidating their policy.