Euromillions winner Gillian Bayford could be set to lose more than £270,000 on the Fife castle she purchased last year after shelving costly plans to renovate the property and putting it up for sale.
Mrs Bayford, who became one of Scotland’s wealthiest women in 2012 after sharing a £148 million jackpot with her ex-husband, bought Chesterhill House near Newport-on-Tay for £619,990.
The 47-year-old then spent tens of thousands of pounds commissioning Dundee-based Aim Design to draw up detailed plans to demolish parts of the 19th Century C-listed building and add modern features.
The work would have seen a movie room, underground garage, swimming pool and spa annexe built at the property but it appears Mrs Bayford has now had a change of heart, with the property being listed for sale at a potential loss of £270,000.
The home, which was built in 1870 but had been unoccupied since 2005 prior to Mrs Bayford’s purchase, is up for sale for offers above £350,000 and architects have described the properly as “a structure in a serious state of decline”.
Planning documents submitted to Fife Council state: “Following years of neglect and dereliction, Chesterhill was purchased by our client with the ambition of restoring and extending the house to create a high-quality family home…
“Chesterhill House is a structure in a serious state of decline. Our client’s brief marks a single opportunity to enhance the architectural and cultural significance of Chesterhill House and ensure its survival for future generations.”
Selling agent Bell Ingram said the property will be a “real bargain” for whoever decides to purchase it and revealed Mrs Bayfield had carried out work to the building “including asbestos removal and attention to the welfare of bats”.
A spokesman for the firm said the planning application lodged by the current owner was “a good indication of what would be accepted by the planning department of Fife Council”.
Mrs Bayford was working as a healthcare assistant in a children’s ward in Suffolk when she became an overnight millionaire with husband Adrian in August 2012. The pair ended their nine-year marriage just 15 months later and split their winnings.
