Plans put in for new eco-house

Plans have been submitted for a zero-carbon home complete with insect hotel and bat boxes to be built on land in West Pinchbeck.

The new property, on Glenside North, is a self-build and the design stems from the desire to have minimal impact and for the owners to become ‘more self-sufficient’ and grow food and flowers while generating their own power.

A design and access statement submitted to South Holland District Council with the application says the ‘grey’ water will be recycled and used for car washing and toilet flushing.

The applicants have ‘strong ties with the district having lived in Pinchbeck for around 25 years. Their five children attended Pinchbeck East Primary School and have subsequently grown up in the area,’ says the statement.

“The aspirations for the home stem from a desire to have a garden and land in a non-state location to enable Mr and Mrs Thomas to grow food, flowers, improve bio-diversity and natural wildlife habitats,” adds the report.

The plot of land has housing to the east and west of it and an agricultural field to the north and measures 0.43 hectares.

“The vision for these proposals is driven by the clients’ brief by creating a home of high architectural quality together with being a highly sustainable home which responds to the social and environmental issues surrounding climate change,” says the document.

With solar energy panels, low-energy lighting, mechanical ventilation heat recovery and ground source heat pump the new four-bedroom house will be zero carbon.

The walls, floors and roofs will be highly insulated and the home will use less energy than it generates.

The home will have its water restricted to 80 litres/person/day and will also have rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling. There will be no conventional cars used by the occupants as the property will have two charging points powered by solar energy.

“A key element of the proposals is to improve biodiversity within the site and the scheme includes the provision of bird boxes, bat boxes and insect hotel, log pile habitats as well as a new wild flower meadow and general planting,” the report says.

The application has been submitted by a King’s Lynn-based architect and will be decided by the district council.