UNIQUE PLAN FOR NET ZERO HOME IN (OR RATHER UNDER) MANSION’S GROUNDS
A man wants to build an underground home next in a natural beauty spot on Anglesey. Philip Austin has already redeveloped an historic mansion on the island site, changing Bryn Mel Manor from a care home to 10 apartments.
Now he is hoping to build an “earth sheltered dwelling” in the grounds of the property.
The new home next to the Menai Strait would be mainly hid from view.
Only the proposed roof, front wall and garage would be visible and the roof would be “intensively planted with turf meadow (or similar)”.
He hopes that planners will support the scheme which he says will be fully new zero.
It would be an impressive home with five bedrooms and a landscaped hidden courtyard that would make Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox jealous. There would also be a garage, and a living room and kitchen/diner on the second floor.
A planning statement from NG Planning said: “The vast majority of the dwelling will be built into the existing ground with only the proposed roof, front wall and garage / parking being visible. The proposed roof will be intensively planted with turf meadow (or similar) and be graded back into the landscape to ensure that the dwelling respects the existing ground levels.
“Stone faced retaining walls, in keeping with existing structures, will be visible at the front of the proposed dwelling.
“The proposed design includes for two central courtyards accessed at first floor level with balconies overlooking at second floor level. These two courtyards provide the majority of amenity / garden area for the proposed dwelling and have been designed to ensure that natural sunlight is available during the daylight hours.”
They added: “The dwelling will be built to Passive House standards to ensure that it meets “Net Carbon
Zero”. To the best of our knowledge there have been no such properties built in Wales to date. The construction will include offsetting of not only construction materials but every aspect of the construction including but not limited to equipment use, energy used in conjunction with the construction (transport, plant etc).”
They said its location would mean the property would not be “harmful to the appearance and character of the area”.
The statement concludes: “Taking the above into account, it is considered that the proposed development is sympathetic to the character of the area and can be accommodated without impacting upon residential amenity of the surrounding dwellings.
“It is considered the development fully accords with the adopted Local Development Plan policies.”
This will now be considered by planners at Anglesey council.