PLANS for a state-of-the-art carbon neutral home in the countryside have been put before the council for a fourth time. Local Democracy Reporter JOSEPH TIMAN speaks to the man fighting to make the dream house a reality.

A ZERO-CARBON house that would place Bolton on the map for its innovative design, according to the architects behind the plans, could be given the green light next month.

Councillors have been presented with plans for the “modern interpretation of a contemporary farmstead” in Egerton before, but the application has been refused or withdrawn every time.

Time and again, planning officers have recommended the committee refuses the application because it is on green belt land.

And yet, the landowner of Middle Critchley Fold, who lives at an adjacent site, is determined to make the “world-class” sustainable home a reality.

David Norris, aged 46, has spent around £75,000 on the project since he acquired the land four years ago.

Speaking to The Bolton News, he said: “I will see this through and, if needs be, to the appeal. When you believe in something passionately, you see it through to the end.”

According to the The Intelligent Design Centre, Mr Norris considered a number of alternative sites both within the borough and further afield but his fondness for the area means he wants to remain in Egerton.

The planning consultant is arguing that the “exceptional” development should be permitted despite being on green belt land.

It would be the second house of its kind to be constructed in Egerton, following the five-bedroom zero-carbon home which was built in 2015 and featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs.

The development claims to incorporate the natural environment as part of its overall concept and not compromise the openness of the landscape.

It can therefore be judged as an “outstanding example of site-specific contemporary design”, the application says.

It added: “It would place Bolton very much on the national map for supporting sustainable site-specific and world class architecture.”

As well as building the state-of-the-art home, the scheme includes a “forest school” to be used mainly by Egerton Community Primary School, where Mr Norris’s children attended.

The school has been supportive of the development throughout Mr Norris’s journey and headteacher Sam Mitchell, has written to the local authority to express the school’s support for the latest plan.

She said: “The detail in the plans suggests this will be a beautiful resource for children from local schools and Early Years provisions to access.”

More than half of the site will be available for community use and, according to Mr Norris, 97 per cent of the area will remain green.

The latest design offers the best view in the house to the kitchen and includes a swimming pool designed to address Mr Norris’s “personal athletic needs” as well as being a central focus within the property.

The fresh-water “Thermapool” which would be heated by an air source heat pump is positioned so that light would reflect towards different parts of the house at different times of day.

At first-floor level, the master bedroom has views of Manchester while Mr Norris’s two teenage children who visit often would have a bedroom on the north side of the building.

The latest application was due to be heard at a planning committee meeting earlier this month but it was deferred at the request of Mr Norris because, he claimed, the officer’s report was "factually incorrect". The council disputes that this is the case.

It will return to the council chambers to be heard at a future planning committee.