relatively straightforward.
However, the planners wanted the complete
opposite of what Stephen, 58, who works as a
consultant on low energy and renewable
energy projects, had in mind for his very
personal project.
“I knew I wanted a Passivhaus, but I was
imagining lots of angular glass and big open-
plan spaces, very modern and contemporary in
style,” he says. “But there were a number of
strict local and green belt planning
requirements which determined that the
house’s design must be traditional. For
example, the need to use Yorkshire stone, the
requirement to have chimneys – even though
we don’t use them – and the demand for thereto be relatively small window openings.”
The planners at Leeds City Council basically
argued for an exact replica of what was there
before. “But no one builds a small two-bed
cottage these days, as it isn’t cost effective,”
Stephen explains. “So, my main battle was
over size. But they also wanted something that
fitted in with the village and the agricultural
vernacular. They were very strict on this, for
example, the roof in stone slate, hanging
brackets for guttering, no fascia boards and
so on.”
It took three laborious attempts to gain
approval. In the end, the construction is of
stone and breeze-block with a cavity packed
with insulation, plus a trussed roof. TheI