A FUTURISTIC housing development has been opened by a television presenter Harry Gration.
The BBC star unveiled the new eco-friendly timber houses at Primrose Hill on Friday.
And he met three children from Stile Common Junior School who won a competition to design the communal garden.
Harry said: "It's a double celebration, firstly for this eco-friendly housing which is important for the future, and secondly for the children whose designs for the garden are going to be implemented."
Ellie Burnham, eight, and nine-year-olds Aaron Noble and Megan Williams received trophies from Harry for their designs.
The £7.5m development at Ridge Close and Ridge Street was built with renewable timber and recycled building materials from local suppliers to keep carbon emissions down.
The new housing includes the UK's largest domestic installation of solar power, giving residents free electricity and hot water.
Primrose Hill is one of several solar energy projects co-ordinated by Kirklees Environment Unit, which makes up about 5% of the UK's total solar energy output.
The solar scheme received more than £500,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry, the EU, Kirklees Energy Fund, Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing and Yorkshire Housing Group, whose spokesman, Jim Reed, welcomed the opening.
He said: "We have all heard about climate change and everybody knows how expensive gas and electricity is becoming.
"So these new homes are designed to have minimum impact on the environment and to be as energy efficient as possible.
"They are extremely well insulated to conserve heat and the solar panels will provide free electricity and hot water for residents."
Many of the 48 two-bedroom flats are still available, starting at £65,250. The 31 three-bedroom houses start from £95,500.
For more information call 0113 2433142.
