THE future is going to be cleaner energy and more efficient homes, buildings and cars.

It has to be in order to protect our environment, our health, and our planet.

The government is already encouraging people to start thinking about switching to electric vehicles, with a ban on petrol and diesel engines planned for 2040.

Energy companies are also looking at ways of reducing pollution from fossil fuels and are using more wind, light, wave and nuclear technology in a bid to meet our growing energy needs.

But we can also do out bit by ensuring that our homes are as efficient as possible.

That is the concept behind David Norris’s planned zero-carbon home in Egerton.

While authorities want to encourage cleaner and more efficient energy use, Bolton Council has objected to the plans because it is on green belt land.

In its proposals for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, it is the only one of the 10 local authorities to remove housing from the protected land.

It has withdrawn plans for homes at North Bolton and Hulton Park, Bowlands Hey and Lee Hall.

But after negotiations, Mr Norris is hopeful that the plan will be approved this time.

The idea behind the project is sound and it we imagine homes of the future to be built.

But the location is the sticking point, especially after the spatial framework draft.