A retired farmer's proposal to build Sussex's first "zero carbon" home has been refused by planning officers.

In the same week another application to build an "earthship" home has been submitted and councillors are due to decide whether to give permission for a village of the eco-friendly houses to be constructed in Brighton tomorrow.

Desmond Gunner, 83, wanted the residents of a proposed self-sufficient solar and biofuel powered home in Blackboys, near Uckfield, to take responsibility for the surrounding 20 hectares of fields and woodland.

Mr Gunner, who was made an MBE for work with countryside organisations, believed the scheme was an example of how Sussex's rural areas could be maintained in the future.

His application was refused on Monday by Wealden District Council planning officer Ian Kay, who said the site was outside of development boundaries and would lead to an undesirable intensification of residential development in a rural location.

Mr Gunner said: "We are told that climate change is the most serious thing that is threatening us at the moment and that we have got to do something about it but as soon as someone tries to do something good they say 'Oh no, not on my patch'."

The £400,000 house was designed to look like an iron age Wealden dwelling and would have been able to return power to the national grid. It would have filtered its waste through a reed bed and used materials from the land to generate its energy. At the same time the owners would have maintained the land.

Mr Gunner said: "I'm very disappointed at the attitude of the council. They have shown no regard whatsoever to the house's objectives of caring for the countryside."

Mr Gunner is planning to appeal against the council's decision. He said he was fully aware the proposed site was outside development boundaries but added that there was legislation which allowed building to go ahead if what was proposed showed real innovation.

Planning officers at Brighton and Hove City Council have recommended that councillors approve plans for 16 "earthship" homes on a site north of Marine Drive and east of Marine Gate.

The houses would be built from tyres filled with earth and generate their own power from wind turbines and solar power.

Members of the council's planning committee will meet at Hove Town Hall at 2pm tomorrow to decide whether to give the scheme the go ahead.

Another planning application has been submitted to Wealden District Council to build a three bedroom earthship home on land north of Stonehurst Lane in Hadlow Down, near Uckfield.

An example earthship is on display in Stanmer Park, Brighton.

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