Going underground: eco-home is planned

HOW the concept home would look

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A PROPOSAL to build an earth-sheltered home on green belt land is being considered by Oldham Council.

An application was submitted to the planning committee to build an eco-friendly home into the side of the hill on land next to Huddersfield Road, Greenfield.

A local resident, working with an architect and Chorlton Planning Ltd, is seeking approval to build "a home for life" which will maximise energy efficiency.

While it proposes to use green belt land, the application argues the site is close to extensive built development.

The building itself would be largely underground and the view from the outside would not appear as a traditional residential site.

It also argued that similar proposals have been approved in other areas of the country and highlighted an approved application for another eco-house on the same site was granted in January 2014 - although the original applicant was unable to pursue it at that time.

In the proposal, the applicants say: "We have lived in the area now for the past 18 years and during those years we have had numerous opportunities to move abroad with work. However, we love the area that much that each time we have opted to remain in the region.

"It has always been an ambition of ours to build our own home and this particular plot of land has been one that we have always dreamed of building on."

They add: "We believe that this house will fit incredibly well into the landscape with a minimal impact on the local community and tradespeople, so we have engaged with an award-winning local architect and local planning company. We have also engaged with local builders based in Greenfield.

"Fundamentally we are looking to build our 'home for life', a home that can be an asset to the area and a home that ourselves and our families can enjoy and share."

To the west of the site is Huddersfield Road, with The Royal George Hotel and the built-up part of Mossley.

To the south lies land which has been terraced in the past and was formerly a garden centre.

North of the dwelling is a steep downward sloping embankment, below which is the Well-i-Hole/Manchester Road junction and to the north-west is Saddleworth Cricket and Bowling Club.

Access to the site would be created along an existing track, currently used as a footpath, with an improved access to Huddersfield Road.