A FUTURISTIC home is to be built in Bolton as a national example of how to create carbon neutral, environmentally friendly housing.

The four-bedroom house will be built on the edge of the West Pennine Moors and will be powered by its own wind turbine.

It is one of a series of government pilot schemes which will also see a biomass power station, a geothermal power station and wind farms built in various locations around the country.

The home is in the early planning stages, but it will cover 820 square metres and will, as a minimum, only emit carbon from “unregulated” sources, such as the TV, refrigerator and cooker.

Developers hope the house will be able to become completely carbon neutral throughout the course of the year.

A council spokesman said it was too early give any details about the house, but confirmed that planning chiefs were in the early stages of discussion regarding a planning application.

A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said consultants would be appointed before December 18.

The carbon neutral home scheme follows a Government announcement that the law is to be changed to allow people to build wind turbines, solar panels and electric car charger points without planning permission.

Housing minister John Healey said: “The people who want to ‘greenproof’ their homes should get a helping hand.

“Our planning rules need to catch up with changing technologies and allow people to take the small measures that make big differences.

“Not only could this save up to hundreds of pounds in fuel bills, they will also help the environment.

“At the same time, we need tough rules so that permitted development does not become a nuisance, so I am putting in place strong safeguards in relation to noise levels, size, location and potential impact.”

The Government is also giving councils a cash boost to help them plan and build green housing and Bolton Council will be given more than £240,000.

The move is intended to reduce the country’s carbon emissions, as 27 per cent of all emissions come from homes.

julian.thorpe@ theboltonnews.co.uk