A UNIQUE home likened to an epic architectural project on television’s ‘Grand Designs’ is being built with cutting-edge eco technology never used before in the region.

In the grounds of historic Newton Hall, a Grade II Listed country house nestled under Cleveland hills beauty spot Roseberry Topping, construction is about to start on a new build described as a mini power plant.

Its Vibration Sun Technology is predicted to generate 58,000 KWh from solar thermal, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and ground source heat.

In summer when more energy is produced, hot water can be exported to Newton Hall creating an additional carbon dioxide saving of one tonne, the equivalent in carbon credit terms to about 30,000 miles in an average family car.

The control system integrating all the renewables together is as small as a tablet device and an internet ‘app’ is being created so heat can be directed to different areas of the house from the swipe of a mobile phone anywhere in the world.

Property developer Tony Wattis of Eco Executives will also project manage the development on behalf of a client. He said: “We are the first in the North-East using this technology. It is potentially negative carbon and it has been designed so it can export energy like a mini power plant.”

Proposals for the detached two-storey five-bedroom house with a triple garage were granted permission at Redcar and Cleveland Council’s planning committee earlier this year where it was commented that the house would be ‘our own grand design’.

Although it did not meet criteria set out in planning policy, the technology will enable the property to exceed the renewable targets set out in Local Development Framework policy.

“It is a really exciting project but I wish other local councils understood sustainability in the same manner as Redcar and Cleveland do,” said Mr Wattis, from Stockton.

He said the owner and himself were thinking about approaching Channel 4’s ‘Grand Designs’ to film the build which is due to start this summer.

"In order to gain the planners' support it needed to be a very simple agricultural building, subservient to the listed hall, and have the ability to offset carbon due to the site’s location,” he explained.

“So the only real difference you can see from a traditional build is the vast quantity of solar thermal and solar (PV) panels. All the clever stuff is in the walls, ground and obviously the control system that integrates all of the renewables together.”