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A rolling home gathers no moss
COUNCILLORS were today due to visit a site high on the moors above Penistone before deciding whether to approve plans to build a unique eco-friendly home that will be covered in earth.
Ged Parker wants to build the earth-sheltered dwelling inside a quarry high on the Pennine hills.
Most of the three-bedroomed house will be covered with earth and grass - so sheep can graze on top of the building.
Ged and his wife Margaret have submitted a planning application to Barnsley Council for the unique underground house at Maythorn, near the wind farm at Crowedge.
The house will be warmed by geo-thermal heat and have electricity generated by heat pumps taking warmth from the earth and solar power.
Ged hopes the energy-efficient underground home will save him thousands of pounds a year in power bills.
The site he has chosen for the unique design is an elevated and exposed area with extensive long distance views towards the Peak District Moors and lies within the green belt.
Planning officials believe the plans are "unique" in the area and "highly unusual" nationally and could fit the very special circumstances needed for planning permission to be granted to a scheme in the midst of the rolling countryside.
But before members of the planning board make the decision they will visit the site to take a look for themselves
Ged, aged 50, said if the scheme gets the go ahead he will start work immediately on the dwelling - which he plans to build himself at an estimated cost of around 200,000.
Roofing contractor Ged said the irony of him building a house with an earth and grass roof is not lost on him.
"It may sound bizarre, but it makes total and complete sense and even though it is high on the hills, no one will be able to see the house because of it being mostly covered with earth - unless they are flying over it," he said.
"In effect we will be living under a huge mound - just like the Teletubbies."
Council officials say although there are "earth dwellings" dotted around the UK, the one at Maythorn would be the only one in the UK to be created high on a windswept moorland site and will "attract national attention and interest".
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
