Couple build themselves an eco-barn

John and Lynne Johnson are opening 5 carbon-efficient barn conversions into eco-friendly holiday cottages

A couple of eco-conscious entrepreneurs believe they have created Britain's first zero-carbon luxury holiday destination in the heart of North Norfolk.

John and Lynne Johnson have opened three new cottages at Cranmer, near Fakenham, which are powered, heated and fuelled by on-site renewable energy sources.

From the rear sun terrace, guests can watch a 20kW wind turbine generating their electricity from its location on Home Farm's 175 acres of land.

Meanwhile, earth-warmed water from 90m underground is pumped into the energy-saving central heating system, and solar panels provide hot water for the cottages and an indoor swimming pool.

Although small amounts of gas and heating oil are used, they are offset by surplus electricity from the turbine which is sold to the National Grid - bringing the net carbon emissions for the three cottages down to zero.

And with a quarter of the £400,000 cost of the development invested in sustainable technologies, Mr Johnson said he hoped the cottages would encourage tourists to enjoy their green principles in comfort.

“What is obvious is that if you provide sustainable accommodation which is not comfortable it won't work,” he said. “People are interested in their principles, but they want a comfortable holiday at the same time. So far, the bookings have looked very positive - we are already booked until next summer.

“We are very proud of the fact that we have no carbon footprint at all. We have researched this quite thoroughly and we have not found anyone else doing it.”

Mr and Mrs Johnson, who moved to Home Farm from London 11 years ago, said they wanted to expand their tourism offering from five cottages to eight to make the entire site more financially viable.

Two of the extra properties have been converted from traditional red-brick Victorian barns, while the third is a modern steel, timber and glass building. The designs incorporate stone floors, low-energy lighting and high levels of heat insulation.

They use recycled water from the farm's borehole and all of the ultra-modern electrical appliances were selected for their minimum energy consumption ratings.

The plush accommodation is aimed at the upper end of the holiday market, with the newest cottage currently pulling in a peak-season rental of £1,500 per week.

The couple hope to continue their green agenda by opening up more of their land to wildlife under stewardship schemes and providing paths for walkers and cyclists.

Mrs Johnson said: “We are here because we love this part of Norfolk, not because we want to run this business and then sell it on. It has always been a long-term plan for us and sustainability has always been an important part of our ethos.”

For more information on Cranmer Country Cottages, visit www.norfolk-luxury-cottages.co.uk

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