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 there


to 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. The


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