Eight Million Pounds “Teletubby” Eco Mansion

Manchester United star Gary Neville is planning to build a country home almost entirely underground, which the locals have already christened as a second Teletubbyland. The £8m house will look like a luxury eco-bunker in the heart of rural Lancashire.

These incredible artist’s impressions are from the original drawings made to his specifications by Make Architects of London. Gary currently lives in a modest £6m, 12-bedroom pile at Top O’ The Knotts, Bury with its own private golf course, cinema, swimming pool, stables, gym and flowerbeds spelling out MUFC. He and his wife Emma have spent three years drafting designs for the 8,000 sq ft property, which will contain solar panels, a wind turbine and a ground source heat pump and also include a large central kitchen and various wings.

Energy produced from the wind turbine will be used to power his neighbouring property with any extra energy supplying the national grid, helping to reduce its carbon footprint. Some of Neville’s teammates have gently mocked him for the home, which will be almost entirely underground.

Some believe it bears resemblence to the grassy retreat from the children’s television show Teletubbies, which is home to Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po. The structure is so advanced the government wants to use the scheme as a benchmark for all future zero-carbon developments.

Far from classification as a drab bunker, this thoughtful design not only considers its eco-impact, but keeps in tune with the tranquil and expansive meadows and hillsides which surround it. The positioning and orientation of the property was carefully thought out, building materials will be locally sourced, and traditional building methods will be used where possible. A ground source heat pump will provide the heating and photovoltaic panels and an on-site wind turbine will generate renewable energy.

Stuart Fraser, partner at Make Architects, said: “The client has been heavily involved in the design process and is passionate about preserving the natural beauty of this area. “It has been a privilege to be given a brief which has allowed us to truly test the boundaries of current sustainable thinking in terms of design and construction and to work along some leading experts in this field.”

If planning permission is granted, work is expected to begin later this year.

Filed Under: Technology & Science