Thirty ‘net zero’ homes for North Devon village include 10 affordable ones

A development of 30 self-sufficient ‘sun-powered’ homes is being proposed in North Devon which is expected to have no impact on the environment, little to no energy costs and generate excess electricity for the grid.

MK Millennium Developments Ltd is behind the plans for land at the A377/A39 roundabout at Bishops Tawton near Barnstaple where it wants to create ‘Solar Orchard’, a ‘zero net gain community’.

Each home would have an air source heat pump, solar panels and advanced insulation standards, planning documents lodged with North Devon Council say.

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Integrated solar energy systems (up to 15 kW) will provide power for the homes with battery storage allowing them to operate independently from the grid for most of the year, say the applicants.

Above: How the ‘self-sufficient’ homes would look at Bishops Tawton. Credit: MK Millennium Developments Ltd

For at least seven to eight months annually, residents can heat their homes and charge electric vehicles at no cost, plus generate an additional income on the sale and surplus energy to the national grid.

The development is designed to be energy-efficient, low-maintenance, and affordable to run.

Ten of the homes will be classed as ‘affordable’ with the aim of offering the remaining homes first to people from Bishops Tawton before opening sales to the wider market.

A mix of two and three bed detached and semi-detached properties is being proposed with three playgrounds for communal use and landscaped green areas to support biodiversity.

Sustainable drainage solutions including rainwater retention and soakaway

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Recent surveys indicate that 11 families from Bishops Tawton are currently in need of affordable homes from a total of 1,930 families across North Devon.

North Devon Council will decide on the application at a later date.