TO the untrained eye, plans for a new home are reminiscent of the one belonging to children's favourites, the Tellytubbies.

It is so discreet that visitors to Glynde could be forgiven for walking right past it - or even over it.

And while most houses need a fresh lick of paint every couple of years, this one would only need a mow now and then to keep it looking spick and span.

The three-bedroom underground home is still on the drawing board, but designer David Tetley is hoping planning chiefs will allow him to start building it later this year.

Mr Tetley, 47, of Plumpton, said: "We would dig out a hole in the hillside and build the house before putting the topsoil back on top and planting downland to cover it over.

Sunlight

"Inside, the home would have three bedrooms at the back and a large living space facing the south which would benefit from all the sunlight coming in.

"The design would be a dome shape with wooden beams on the ceiling, it would be rather like being in an uptunned boat with all the ribbing on the ceiling.

"Maybe West Sussex County Council, which has been told by the Government to build all these homes, should take note.

"Rather than plonking a load of brick boxes into nice-looking fields, they could build some of these and have a much lesser impact on the environment."

The one-storey home, off Ranscombe Lane, would have a floorspace of up to 2,000 sq ft with the rooms separated by screens rather than conventional walls.

Mr Tetley said the house would be warm in the winter and cool in summer and would cost no more than £150,000 to build.

The design has been commissioned by Leo Wynne, a bursar at Cumnor House School, Lewes Road, Danehill.

Mr Wynne, 61, who lives in Glynde, said: "I own the land which is an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a normal house would look pretty out of place there.

"But I've always wanted to live there because it's such a picturesque spot. I liked the idea of living underground but not in a rabbit hole and this is a most amazing design."

It is going before Lewes District Council's planning committee in the next few weeks.

Neighbours

And if given the go-ahead, Mr Wynne, and his wife, Nicole, and their two children, Llewella, 15, and Phoebe, 13, hope to move in early next year.

And they won't have to worry about conventional problems like noisy neighbours.

Mr Wynne said: "The only things living nearby will be some sheep - we'll stick them on the roof and they'll keep the grass down!"

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