POPULAR television programme Grand Designs has been filming on Portland.

Presenter Kevin McCloud is looking at Paul and Debbie Care’s scheme which aims to transform an old gun emplacement at Blacknor Fort into a modern home.

The development aims to create the home by largely sitting it on top of a 1901 gun emplacement’s 62ft-diameter circular concrete surround.

The couple spent £250,000 buying the emplacement and the programme will follow their efforts as they try to complete the development on a budget of about £400,000.

Debbie said: “We are totally excited, both about building our new home and at having it appear on television.

“Kevin McCloud will introduce the programme by walking round Blacknor Fort explaining to viewers what it is we are trying to do and achieve.

“We hope to complete our home and to be able to sit down with our roast turkey by Christmas 2009, hopefully on time and on budget.”

When their home is complete it will have a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and five bedrooms, most of the rooms with a wedge shape. Below this living area there will be an office, storage area, an entrance hall, a study and a north-facing terrace.

There will also be an annex intended for the future needs of their daughter, Lucy, five, who suffers from Down’s Syndrome. It will include a bedroom, a bathroom and a south terrace.