The Long Sutton Earth Sheltered Social Housing (LESH) scheme received massive praise from South Holland District Council development control committee members, who believe it will make Long Sutton recognised worldwide.

The development will see the building of three three-bedroom and three two-bedroom detached earth sheltered dwellings on land adjacent to Bridge Road.

They are designed by Long Sutton’s SEArch Architects and will be managed by the Lincolnshire Rural Housing Association (LRHA).

The unique homes meant usual planning considerations for design and character were set aside so councillors could approve this one-of-a-kind development.

Coun Chris Brewis said: “One of the things that came up at a consultation meeting in Long Sutton was that people wanted the place to be ‘known’. Developments like this will put this area on the map and I hope it is a vision for the future.”

Holbeach councillor Rita Rudkin added: “This application comes as a breath of fresh air and I’m absolutely delighted to see such innovative and forward looking architecture and I dare to hope these people could head towards Holbeach!”

Each house will use state-of-the-art energy saving technology, including photovoltaic panels installed on the roofs, providing electricity and heated water, earth bunding surrounding the walls to help insulation, and a rainwater harvesting facility.

It will be the first social housing scheme in the UK to give tenants autonomy over their energy, water and waste management, with residents even expected to make around £5 a week from the excess electricity filtered back into the National Grid, aided by a 6kw wind turbine in the centre of the site.

LRHA chief executive John Howes wants work to begin on the project straightaway, partly because £432,000 of central government funding for the development has to be used by the end of March.