Futuristic homes planned for Backwell

AN ENVIRONMENTALIST from Backwell is hoping to build three green homes in the village with grass roofs and solar panels.

Mike Hughes, of Farleigh Road, has applied to North Somerset Council for planning permission to knock his current house down and put up the environmentally-friendly homes, which will not give out any carbon emissions.

Mr Hughes, aged 45, has been refused permission three times in the past, but he is hoping the authority will give him the green light next month.

He said: "We now have the technology to be able to build environmentally friendly homes. I'm reasonably environmentally friendly and would like to do my bit."

The father-of-two has lived in Backwell for 17 years, but he has come up against strong opposition from his neighbours.

Backwell Parish Council also agreed to recommend refusal of the proposal at its meeting, on the grounds that the homes would be out of character with the rest of the neighbouring houses and also due to its proximity to a green belt area.

In a letter to the North Somerset, council clerk, Jane Stone, says: "The three houses are an overdevelopment of this site, apart from the narrow access road.

"House numbers 97, 99 and 101 Farleigh Road have, at present, open views of the green belt at the rear.

"If this application goes ahead their outlook would be a complete eyesore."

North Somerset ward councillor for Backwell, Councillor Tom Collinson, said: "We applaud the environmentally friendly aspect of the proposal.

"But it's a very small site, down a narrow track and it's out of character with the locality.

"We (ward councillors) share the view of the constituents that these issues should be addressed.