Investors in Grand Designs presenter's housing scheme set to lose thousands

Could lose 97% of investment

Hannah Godfrey
clock • 1 min read

Small investors who put millions of pounds into an eco-friendly housing venture scheme created by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud could lose almost all of their money, it has been claimed.

Between 2013 and 2017, McCloud "wooed" investors with a string of fundraising mini-bond schemes that promised returns of up to 9% a year from his Happiness Architecture Beauty (HAB) homes businesses.   It has since emerged that those investors, who put in a total of £2.4m into one of the bonds associated with the business, are on course to lose between 74% and 97% of their money in a worst-case scenario, according to an article the Guardian.  Another set of investors, who put a further £1.9m in one of the HAB companies in 2013 and were told to expect dividends of at least 5% by the en...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

A very old saying with a very modern problem: Exploring behavioural biases

A very old saying with a very modern problem: Exploring behavioural biases

'If only the calendar could tell us when to take risk and when to retreat'

Ian Jensen-Humphreys
clock 16 April 2026 • 4 min read
Franklin Templeton launches enhanced indexing equity fund range for UK investors

Franklin Templeton launches enhanced indexing equity fund range for UK investors

Four funds launched

Michael Nelson
clock 13 April 2026 • 1 min read
Risk Warning Review plans aim to address 'negative framing' of investing

Risk Warning Review plans aim to address 'negative framing' of investing

Lowest investment rate in G7

Alex Sebastian
clock 09 April 2026 • 2 min read