Hobbit homes the latest des-res idea

AN innovative architect is looking for recruits for an eco-friendly housing development in Saddleworth.

Deramore Hutchcroft wants to create 10 homes on farmland in Delph, inspired by the permission granted last October for the “invisible”home on Dark Lane, Delph.

Building work on the 2,800sq ft home — which is on privately-owned green belt land — is due to start next month. The house - to be built from eco-friendly materials - will be cut into the hillside and only a stone-faced frontage will be seen.

Mr Hutchcroft’s new project will take the ideas of the house to create a “Hobbit-style” hamlet.

He said: “Opposers to the invisible home fear it will open the floodgates to unsympathetic design and over-development, while supporters see it as a realistic option.

“There are lots of plots of land all around the country that owners can do nothing with - so why not free it for development of eco-friendly housing? Let owners sell plots with planning permission to groups and allow them to build their own communities.

“People really seem to like the idea of living like Hobbits - and who am I to argue? The design of a Hobbit home is sympathetic to its environment and allows the owner the opportunity to live somewhere that they might never have been able to before.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the new project can visit www.AKAcommunity.org