A SCHEME to transform a derelict Portland gun emplacement into a state of the art new home could be captured on television.

Channel 4’s popular Grand Designs programme presented by Kevin McCloud is interested in featuring the project being tackled by Paul and Debbie Care at Blacknor Fort.

The proposal will see most of the new home sit on top of the 1901 emplacement’s 62ft-diameter circular concrete surround.

Debbie said: “I contacted Grand Designs in December 2007 and they said they were interested but couldn’t do anything until the scheme was granted full planning permission, which it now has.”

Paul, an optician, said: “A programme representative came down and visited us recently for interviews and pictures and we have now heard that they are very keen to do a programme on us and are just waiting for final confirmation.”

The couple, who have four children, wanted somewhere to buy and do up and when Paul saw the fort views in an estate agent’s window he was hooked.

The fort was already sold, but the sale fell through and Paul and Debbie stepped in.

Debbie said: “We had been heading for Bournemouth to spend £250 on toys but we reached a decision, turned round and ended up spending £250,000 to buy the emplacement.”

Paul said: “We do have a budget of about £400,000 for the new build and one feature we know we want for the lower dining area is a glass wall along the east wall.”

The upper part of the scheme will provide the main living arrangements including a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and five bedrooms, most of the rooms having a wedge shape.

A column fixed in the centre of the gun emplacement projecting about nine feet above the concrete surround will support the structure while the roof will be covered in grass with solar panels and cells on the south face.

A central roof window will provide a skylight to the central part of the new home.

Below this living area in what was the gun emplacement area will be an office, storage, an entrance hall, a study and a north-facing terrace.

A two-car garage and an annexe will be created on the site of the existing bungalow and magazine area.

Part of the annexe is intended for the future needs of their daughter Lucy, five, who suffers from Down’s Syndrome. It will sit on top of the garage and curve around to the south.

The structure will also provide a bedroom, a bathroom, and a dining and living area as well as a south terrace.