A couple's plan for an eco-friendly new home with a wildflower roof in rural Derbyshire is being foiled by the council

Mr and Mrs Lawrence applied to North East Derbyshire District Council for permission to build a single storey bespoke house and to demolish and rebuild the Old Coach House in Marsh Green Lane, Ashover to create an additional garage/workshop with studio above. The couple, who live in Brookfield Park, Mill Lane, Old Tupton, also wanted to convert the existing workshop at the site for use as a cycle shop.

Their plan was to sink the two-bedroom house with a wildflower-filled flat roof into the property behind a waist-high wall so that the building would blend in with the surrounding fields. Suggestions included high levels of insulation, triple glazed windows, large glazing to the south facade to maximize solar gains and mechanical heat recovery to ensure a constant supply of fresh air.

The Lawrences wanted to provide ancillary accommodation and garage space by converting the Old Coach House to include solar panels on the roof after demolishing the existing building, which is in a state of disrepair and has major structural cracks in several locations around the area has.

Vikki Hadfield, of The Barley Close, Butts Road, Ashover, wrote in support of her application: “It's rare these days to see so much effort put into a new build and with so many environmentally friendly measures in place, I think we should all do it.” proud and supportive.”

However, planning permission was refused for a number of reasons, including because the shape, character and appearance of the development would detract from the character and appearance of the area and landscape and because the design of the dwelling is not considered to be of high quality. Extensive external lighting and a large amount of glazing in the south-facing facade would be illuminated at night and were considered to be in conflict with the Neighborhood Plan policy. The bat studies submitted did not confirm that removing a tree would not harm the bats or their habits. The protected trees on the western boundary of the site were at risk of being felled due to their proximity to the proposed residential area and the impact they would have on the house through shading, danger to property and health and leaf litter.