‘Dial Corner’, will be a single storey earth sheltered dwelling, designed to be naturally heated and naturally ventilated. Once you have built your own eco home, it will be one of the most sustainable dwellings of its kind, operating beyond ‘zero carbon’, with the energy efficiency standards potentially achieved amongst the highest ever recorded in the UK.
A self-build off-grid plot, this single storey design has achieved a Design SAP Rating of 167 (independently verified by the top energy assessor in the UK) and will have complete self-sufficiency over energy, water and waste water management. These high levels of sustainability combined with extraordinary design, create a home that fits flawlessly with its immediate environment.
Sitting on a plot of approximately 0.78 acres, presently grazed by horses, it will be surrounded on all sides by newly planted trees & flora. A new pond will be dug to encourage wildlife to co-exist with the home, and with an increase in the boundary planting, an emphasis will be placed on encouraging wildlife to flourish within the property.
The proposed design by the renowned fossil-free architect and expert, Dr Jerry Harrall, will include four bedrooms, an open plan living, kitchen and dining room, with the ability to utilise two of the bedrooms to create separate offices for working from home. The idea is to personify the work from home culture in a light, natural environment that has been proven to be improve your mental well-being.
As a fossil-free home being naturally heated in its entirety, there is no need for a conventional central heating system; that means no radiators, gas or any kind of heat pump. All the heat that is received from the sun and emitted from our bodies throughout the day is stored in the cement free, concrete constructed ceilings, floors and walls. This acts as a ‘heat sink’, releasing heat throughout the day from the overall structure, when the outside temperature is lower than inside, maintaining the internal temperature at a stable 21°C all year. This process is referred to as a ‘high thermal mass building’ and is a natural characteristic of buildings constructed in this way. This is a return to construction methods used for over a thousand or so years.
An array of solar panels and battery storage will also quickly output more power than the dwelling will require, meaning surplus energy will automatically be exported back into the grid generating income for the eventual resident.
Currently a paddock, the plot is situated in an ideal and accessible location to build your own eco home, 20 minutes drive from Norwich City Centre and 7 minutes drive to Wymondham. The recently resurfaced (and significantly quieter) A11 takes you straight into the heart of Norwich city centre and the Norfolk coast to the north, and south to Cambridge and London. Attleborough train station is a short drive away, with direct connections to Cambridge, with onwards links to London Kings Cross. Norwich train station also has direct services to London Liverpool Street.
Norwich has everything a classic cathedral city has to offer, restaurants, bars, pubs, theatre, cinemas, independent shopping, universities and is regularly is voted as one of the top places to live in the UK (recent poll in 2023). Wymondham is the local town centre with all the essential shops and lifestyle options you need, and has one of the top state schools in the county. Dial Corner is a ten minute walk from the popular Wymondham College (rated outstanding by Ofsted).
Planning approval was granted on 18th November 2022, and the application can be viewed on the South Norfolk planning portal by following reference number 2021/2764.