Colemans Hill Farm Eco House

Welcome to Colemans Hill Farm Eco House blog

We’ve now been on site for almost a year but are only just about to start our build - an indication of the tedious and time consuming processes required before planning permission can be obtained and essential services brought on site. If you are interested in finding out what we have been doing so far and learning about some of the difficulties we have encountered over the past year, please follow this link.  

Our three children have all built or restored their own houses and we have perhaps left it a little late to follow in their footsteps. We are nevertheless enjoying the challenge of building a house which we hope will blend into its natural surroundings, minimise the use of energy and water, encourage wildlife on site and allow us to grow some of our own food.

Fifty years ago we began our married life in a caravan on a farm in Worcestershire so the limitations of living in a mobile home are no surprise.  Space is at a premium and insulation is minimal but we are fairly comfortable and there is plenty to do preparing for the build. For photos of the site and our current accommodation click here.

Recent changes to building regulations place greater emphasis on improved insulation, reduction in water use and greater energy efficiency including the use of renewables. Having already installed just under 10kW of solar PV on the barn, Colemans Hill EcoHouse is expected to be zero energy (ie. where the amount of energy from on-site renewable energy sources is equal to the amount of energy used by the house). The design will also benefit from passive solar gain and heat much of its water from solar thermal panels on the kitchen roof.  The timber frame will sit on a well insulated foundation slab and have hemcrete walls which many regard as carbon negative.  Rainwater run-off from the barn and house will be harvested and the surplus fed to a wild pond.  Further details will be posted here as the build progresses.

As we start this blog (December 2011) we have moved our mobile home (30 m!) to a more convenient position and electricity, water and a landline have been connected.  
If you are planning an “eco-build” or are already involved in a similar project, please feel free to contact us to share information and ideas.