It’s called Steppingstone, it’s mostly underground and it’s exactly the type of English estate that James Bond would feel comfortable living in. Last summer it was rumoured that Liverpool’s Mario Balotelli was moving in, but if you’ve got £4.75 million ($6.95 million), this millionaire’s playground could be yours. The 16,000 square foot modern residence is actually owned by Steve O’Connor and wife Clare who built the home underground to avoid planning restrictions. Steve describes it as a “hole in the ground”.
“We couldn’t construct anything above ground that was bigger than the original house, so we asked if we could build underground instead,” says 49-year-old Steve, a property developer.
The couple worked closely with an architect to come up with the design and in 2008 builders began carving out the sandstone.
Inside you’ll find a grand 100′ living area with walls of glass, circular skylights, and touches of pink in just about every area.
The lower level of the home features a stunning indoor pool with jacuzzi & sauna with access to the outdoor areas which include a helipad, soccer field, zip-line, children’s playground, and outdoor TV lounge.
Steppingstone is located on the slopes of Helsby Hill, a wooded sandstone hill above the Cheshire Plain and Mersey Estuary, much of which belongs and is managed by the National Trust.
