PLANNING NEWS: PARAGRAPH 79E PROJECT, THE AUTARKIC HOUSE IS SHORTLISTED AT THE PLANNING AWARDS

The Autarkic House – Europe’s first off-grid solar-hydrogen powered home has been shortlisted at the Planning Awards for use of technology, with the winners to be announced in September.

This innovative Paragraph 79e home located in Devon AONB, will not be connected to any national power, gas, water or waste connection and will be powered solely by renewable energies produced on site.

The owners’ ambition is not only to complete the project but also make the concept of off-grid living accessible to other homeowners wanting to be self-sufficient and reduce their carbon footprint by using their methodology in future development.

James Ellis, Associate Planner at Rural Solutions, who led the planning application for The Autarkic House, named to reflect its self-sufficient state, said the consent was a significant achievement for the applicants.

The process was challenging and achieving consent through innovation is always a big accomplishment. The Autarkic House has been sensitively designed but its winning hand is in its innovative engineering strategy. The technologies applied on this project align with the growing popularity and focus on the importance of responsible and sustainable building design and the project has the potential to be a forerunner for the way in which houses could be powered in the future.

James Ellis

Associate Director, Planning

Set in a registered historic park, The Autarkic House has been designed by architects, StudioExe and resembles a contemporary barn structure.

April 28, 2020

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