Plans have been approved to construct what is predicted to be the most energy-efficient home ever built in the region.

Robert Ashton, the owner of land opposite Turnpike Farm in Suton, near Wymondham, has been given permission for the innovative design, which features a single-storey property covered in earth.

He described the scheme as arguably the most energy-efficient dwelling in the eastern counties.

The building, which will be called Dial Corner, has been likened to something from the set of children’s TV programme, Teletubbies - where the characters lived in a house built into the earth – or a Hobbit house from Lord of the Rings, but with a flatter white-rendered entrance.

At a South Norfolk Council development meeting, a planning officer admitted the site was outside the boundary where development was acceptable in Suton, and he would normally be saying “no no no”. 

Eastern Daily Press:

However, he argued several points went in the development’s favour, including that council was not currently able to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land and the applicant was proposing an “innovative dwelling”. 

The property is expected to be extremely energy efficient with one officer saying he has “never seen such impressive ratings”.

The plans also include a set of solar panels, a pond and a 5,000-litre rainwater tank for filling toilets and washing machines.

The planning officer said: “It proposes to harvest its own wastewater and treat its own water on site. Although these are not cutting-edge technologies, it shows what you can do by spinning those existing technologies available to people.  

“You need not have Elon Musk on hand to develop this for you, these techniques are available but not used widely.”

The scheme saw unanimous support from councillors, with many saying they would like to see more developments like it in the future.

Mr Ashton said he hoped others will follow his example and look to develop similarly energy-efficient homes.

“We all have a responsibility to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and Dial Corner will clearly show how it is possible, even in the UK, to live comfortably with only the sun to power our homes,” he said.