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New-build homes with price tags of up to £1.2million have languished on the market for more than a year – with their 'soulless' design savaged by critics as an 'industrial unit crossed with a beach hut'.

The exclusive seven-home estate on the outskirts of Bristol was hailed by estate agents as a 'landmark in its own right' when properties went on sale in April 2025.

The detached four and five-bedroom houses sit in the semi-rural village of Rangeworthy, in South Gloucestershire, where the average property sale is around £472,000.

Yet, 15 months on, only one of the expensive 'architect-designed' homes on the Rangeworthy Park development is recorded as having sold.

Meanwhile, others have had their prices cut in a desperate bid to attract interest.

The reason for the lack of demand may lie in the brutal verdict delivered by unimpressed house-hunters online, who have compared the white-rendered executive homes to 'oversized sheds' and branded them 'wildly overpriced'.

One remarked on a Reddit forum: 'Completely soulless buildings that are totally out-of-touch with the surrounding area.

'£1.2m can get you a seriously nice property in this area, with a decent bit of land as well.

'Or if you really want a new build, there's loads of other developments in the area that don't look like oversized sheds.'

The detached four and five-bedroom houses sit in the semi-rural village of Rangeworthy, in South Gloucestershire, where the average property sale is around £472,000

The exclusive seven-home estate on the outskirts of Bristol was hailed by estate agents as a 'landmark in its own right' when properties went on sale in April 2025

Another chimed in: 'It's the fact they are in the middle of nowhere and they are packed in on top of each other closer as though it's a newbuild estate in the middle of a city.

'And they want £1.2m. Keep dreaming.'

Two of the five-bedroom properties are currently being marketed for £1.2million – down from £1.25million.

Another was originally listed for £1.1million in April last year before having £50,000 sliced off the asking price in December.

Another four-bedroom house went on sale for £975,000 before its price was cut to £895,000.

One of the seven homes was reported to have sold for £795,000 in October 2025, though the Daily Mail could find no Land Registry sales data.

Another £1.05m plot is listed as 'reserved' on the websites of agents Savills, who crow on their website of 'breaking the price ceiling for the local area with [a] premium product'.

Critics online, however, were less enamoured with the development and its eyebrow-raising asking price.

One wrote: 'For £1.2million, I'd expect to at least be able to hold my arms out from my sides while walking between my house and my neighbour's.'

Yet, 15 months on, only one of the expensive 'architect-designed' homes on the Rangeworthy Park development is recorded as having sold

Another compared the architecture to a 'small industrial unit crossed with a beach hut' while a third noted: 'Price per square foot is higher than my place in a nice London suburb.'

One person claiming to live locally said the properties 'stand out like a sore thumb'.

They said: 'The whole village hates them. I'm not surprised they haven't sold. "Soulless" is spot on and they are grossly overpriced.'

Another added of the properties: 'The problem is the character they have is that of an accountant who gave up on pursuing their career seriously about 15 years ago and is now just watching the clock until it's time to retire.'

The withering response is a far cry from the glossy language being used to market the development.

Agents describe Rangeworthy Park as a collection of seven 'stunning homes' surrounded by arable fields.

Its promotional material says the height and bold design of the houses give them a 'commanding presence' and make the development 'a landmark in its own right'.

The sales blurb states: 'Inspired by its agricultural surroundings, the development evokes a modern-day smallholding feel, blending seamlessly with the natural beauty of its location.'

One of the five-bedroom homes, which carries a £1.2million price tag, offers three bathrooms and 2,562 sq ft of living space.

It includes a west-facing garden, formal drawing room, home office, garage and an expansive open-plan kitchen and living area with bifold doors.

Upstairs, the principal bedroom has a dressing area, en-suite bathroom and Juliet balcony overlooking neighbouring wild meadows.

An aerial view of the development on the edge of the village of Rangeworthy

The kitchen is fitted with integrated appliances, while the property also boasts underfloor heating, timber flooring, triple glazing and high-end bathroom tiling.

Agents describe it as a 'magnificent, ultra-modern five-bedroom detached house' with 'superb sustainability credentials'.

It adds: 'This is not just a place to live; it's a statement of style and sophistication.'

Yet after more than a year on the market, the biggest statement may be the absence of buyers willing to pay the asking price.

One prospective house-hunter concluded: 'Just one of them set in a large landscaped garden might at least look interesting.

'But this clutch of identical houses, all crammed together on small plots, just looks ridiculous.

'If I'm spending over a million for a detached house, I will want a decent-sized plot of land that's been expensively landscaped, an original house design, and some sense of prestige about the area rather than feeling like I live on an industrial estate.'