James Bond-Style Cliffside Mansion Left Abandoned
A luxurious £3 million mansion overlooking a sweeping bay has lain empty since 2021 after its competition winner discovered the cliff-top property was at risk of collapsing into the sea below, MailOnline can reveal.
The Winner’s Short-Lived Stay
Foundry worker Glen Elmy from Walsall moved into the James Bond-style property in October 2021 and marveled at the views across Morte Bay on the North Devon coast. But three days later – after learning of the coastal erosion threatening his property – he handed the keys to Stealth House back to Omaze and is understood to have asked for money equal to the property’s £3 million value.
Property Ownership Details
Mr. Elmy has never returned to the five-bed property, according to title deeds held by the Land Registry. Omaze’s Properties LLC bought Stealth House for £3.8 million in June 2021 – four months before Mr. Elmy moved in – which suggests Omaze had not transferred legal ownership to the West Midlander. As a result, Stealth House has stood empty for almost two years, and neighbors predict it will have been swallowed up by coastal erosion within five to ten years.
Neighbor Accounts
A source told MailOnline: “I met Mr. Elmy when he was here for the publicity. He was apparently planning to stay for a week but left after three days and that was the last we saw of him. The corner of the house goes almost to the cliff edge – it’s about two meters away from the edge.”
It is not clear if Mr. Elmy was given a different prize, but Omaze’s terms and conditions state they can offer the winner a cash alternative or other prize.
Current State of the Property
When MailOnline visited earlier this month, imposing metal gates stood at the entrance to the house where an intercom went unanswered. There was no sign the house was lived in.
A neighbor who didn’t want to be named said: “I never see anybody going in or out since the win. There is all sorts of speculation that it can’t be insured because of how close it’s been built to the sea and on the cliff edge. There is a problem with coastal erosion all along the coast here – there are signs around the beach warning about falling rocks.”
Local Concerns About the Property
“It could just be local rumors but the person who originally built the building was told it was too close to the edge and mortgage and insurance might be a problem. When I moved in five years ago it was on the market for £2.5 million but nobody wanted it. When the competition was running we saw cars coming and going but soon after the winner was announced that stopped and there’s been nothing since.”
In June 2021, as the competition was running, locals voiced similar concerns that their house was built too close to the cliff edge which could be worn away over time, resulting in it potentially being an unsafe structure.
Social Media Reactions
One person wrote on Devon Live’s Facebook page: “Very nice sea views but five to ten years it will be in the sea. A lot of money to lose.” Another wrote: “I’m sure it’ll look a lot more interesting in about 20 years when half of it has fallen off the edge of the cliff due to erosion.”
Property Features and History
The property near Ilfracombe was designed by award-winning architect Guy Greenfield and boasts five bedrooms, six bathrooms, two living areas and 0.9 acres of land. It first came onto the market with estate agents Knight Frank in 2018 with a guide price of £2.5 million.
It features a modern infinity pool with stunning panoramic views of the ocean and is only 11 miles from the stunning market town Barnstaple. Morte Beach is just half a mile away and the popular surfing beaches of Croyde, Putsborough and Woolacombe are close by.
Winner’s Background
Mr. Elmy was visiting his parents’ house when he found out he scooped the main prize in the Omaze Million Pound House Draw. He had spent the last 33 years working at the same foundry in Walsall.
