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Walsh's green building project finished on time

Posted: 06/08/2007

Tommy Walsh's ambitious programme to buy a plot of land for £60,000 and build an eco friendly house on it for £60,000 in 60 days has been completed - the two bedroom property located near St Wendreda's Church, March, has been built and furnished on time and within budget.

Tommy - the TV house building and DIY guru - and his company, Free Spirit, have created a modular concept building that is suitable for the growing self-build market. "It is the most energy efficient home ever designed and built in Fenland," he said.

Everything, from materials including window frames to recycled oak sleepers and sweet chestnut exterior cladding, has been chosen for its environmental friendliness.

And many eco friendly items including a rainwater harvester and extra-thick insulation, have been incorporated to keep running costs to a minimum - with annual fuel bills of less than £200.

David Galloway, Ridgeons March branch manager who helped supply some of the products, said: "We're really pleased to have been involved with this project - it's been a great initiative for the March area.

"Tommy has worked wonders to get it done so quickly and it has been exciting to see the eco-home unfold. He's shown it can be done without breaking the bank, and I think we'll definitely see more eco homes springing up in the near future. Here in the construction products industry, we're seeing evidence of that with the popularity of things like solar panels and energy efficient wood burners increasing all the time, and we're updating stock for the eco market to meet demand."

The programme, Tommy's House, following the design, build and furnishing of the house and garden will be shown on the Discovery Channel in the autumn.

The eco house, which comes with £10,000 worth of furnishings, could be worth up to £200,000 on the open market, but may be snapped up by Fenland District Council to act as a showcase for builders, home owners or architects keen to reduce the carbon footprint.

Cambs Times  
 

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