A FUTURISTIC underground home could be built in a quarry near Huddersfield.

The plan for a subterranean eco-home between High Flatts and Upper Denby has been submitted to Kirklees Council.

The five-bedroomed home, off Denby Lane is the second underground home design by Huddersfield architect Paul Ibberson.

His proposal for one at Helme was turned down, but Mr Ibberson is hopeful his latest plan will be well received.

He said: “A lot of people think of the Wombles, but you can actually make a really nice place to live.

“A lot more people are warming to the idea as they’ve seen the benefits.

“Because it’s underground it keeps it warm and it cuts down all the utility bills.

“We’re recycling the water, putting in a bore hole, we’ve got solar panels and a bio-mass boiler – we won’t be connecting to the mains gas at all.

“The glazing is designed to keep the heat in.

“It gets trapped in the main atrium and then it’s distributed throughout the house.

“We’re also building the house out of the stone that’s already in the quarry.

“Normally you’d have to dig it out and transport it to site, so you can’t get any more ecological than that.

“It will also have grass growing from the walls and a woodland area.”

Mr Ibberson said he had been inspired by the home of Arthur Quarmby – otherwise known as the Chief Constable of the Graveship of Holme – who built the first underground home in the area in 1975.

He said: “I’m working off what Arthur did. I’m still trying to refine it and bring 21st century technology to it, but he set the benchmark, I’m only trying to improve on what he’s done.”