Seal Point, 10 Sea View Parade, Maylandsea, Essex, CM3 6EL

Never Buy A House On A Floodplain! Unless of course it’s built with a gravity-defying living area that “floats” 15 feet above the ground. It’s already a TV star, on a superb 3.5 acre plot with showstopping views over the Blackwater Estuary and beyond.

There’s no risk of being flooded with this unique coastal property! That's despite it being built in an area judged by the Environment Agency to be at the highest risk.

It's all because of the unique, innovative design employed by the current owner when set the task of building a flood-proof house just metres from the shore and Harlow (Blackwater) Sailing Club.

He engaged the services of Richard Coutts of Baca Architects. Baca are an award winning practice that specialise in climate-resilient properties such as the Grand Designs amphibious house that rises up in the event of a flood.

Richard accepted the challenge and took an altogether different approach with this state-of-the-art coastal property.

The two-storey building is surrounded by a bund wall, designed to keep out water. It’s the first line of defence against the sort of flood that happens only once a century.

It's unlikely to ever happen but should this wall be breached, the living areas and bedrooms of this impressive 3,600 sq foot house are all on the cantilevered first floor, which ‘floats’ 15 feet (around 4.5m) above the ground.

Only the utility room and double garage are on the ground floor.

Everything else is on the elevated first floor, which also gives the property wonderful 260° panoramic views over the beautiful estuary coastline and the substantial leafy grounds.

The social hub of this versatile home is the open plan kitchen / dining room & living area. The high sloping ceiling gives a wonderful feeling of space and the superb fitted kitchen has an island unit, perfect for grabbing a quick bite or catching up at the end of a busy day.

There’s a more formal dining area with space for a large dining table and a relaxed seating area with the best views of the estuary. It’s the perfect place to relax together and will really come into its own if you’re fond of entertaining.

The house was designed and carefully positioned at an angle so that all rooms could benefit from the breathtaking views. The kitchen / living area and all four bedrooms give access to the terrace which wraps around three sides of the property, the glass balcony giving unrivalled views of the estuary.

Three of the four double bedrooms have stylish ensuite shower rooms, the fourth would be perfect as a home office or nursery.

The only room that doesn’t have large sliding doors to the terrace is the luxurious bathroom. That's to spare your blushes when you’re enjoying a soak in the freestanding bath.

Even with the living accommodation being on the first floor, you should have no access concerns (or worries about coming back with fully laden shopping bags). There’s a lift from the ground floor to the first floor, as well as the feature staircase.

As you’d expect from an architect-designed property; every last detail has been considered. The exterior render is silicone-based, a material chosen for its waterproofing properties. The roof tiles are solar slates that include electricity-generating photovoltaics.

There’s also an air-source heat pump that supplies hot water and heats the underfloor heating throughout the first floor living area.

Seal Point sits on a substantial 3.5 acre plot with a sweeping gated driveway, large open gardens and even a couple of ponds. The protective bund wall creates an inner, more private walled garden.

There’s so much space to enjoy and it’s so close to the waterline you can even hear the waves lapping against the shore.

You appreciate the space or you may think that it’s a shame to keep it all to yourselves. There is scope to add another flood-proof property on the substantial site, subject to planning permission of course.

If you were to explore this the new property would sit further inland, so wouldn’t spoil your breathtaking views.

Maylandsea is a quiet coastal village. With the sailing club at the end of the drive, it could be the perfect place to bring up your family if you all love messing about on the water.

The village has a medical centre and a primary school that’s rated “Good” by Ofsted.

Older kids will have further to travel. The nearest secondary school is Plume School in Maldon, around 15 minutes drive away. Chances are you’d probably head to Maldon for a greater choice of shops, leisure facilities and places to eat.

This ambitious and innovative architect-led approach resulted in Seal Point and its owner being featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs in October 2021.

Now the owner has completed his ambitious self-build project he's decided to move on and give others the chance to enjoy this unique coastal property.

So if you’re prepared to rip up the Flood Risk Report and instead enjoy living in a state-of-the-art Grand Design with stunning panoramic views, call to arrange a private viewing.

To order a complimentary brochure for this home, reach out to the team and we will be delighted to help you