Meadside in Coltishall, a thatched property situated in palatial grounds leading down to the river, is for sale for £1million.

One of the most attractive features of the Broads are some of the stunning thatched properties which sit along the water's edge, many built in the 1930s and seen only from a boat. Some are used as holiday or second homes and offer a fantastic lifestyle whereby you can enjoy one of Norfolk's very special features, the Broads, which also attracts a host of wildlife - which you can view from your own living room window.

This house is indeed very special because although built in the style of some of the period Broads cottages, with a fine steeply pitched thatched roof, it actually is a new build, the creation of its owners in 2010 and boasts energy efficient technology, unlike many of its period counterparts.

Its setting is just stunning; 2.2 acres of palatial gardens and grounds which lead down to the River Bure with a bridge leading to an island which houses a boathouse and facilities for eight moorings.

You really can't believe all the land is actually your front garden because it is so expansive and just beautiful. Also, worth noting is that this is not a busy stretch of the river so you are not going to get too many vessels motoring past - in fact the position of this property is next to the Norfolk Mead Hotel; you turn off from the centre of Coltishall right, through trees and instead of taking the right fork to the Norfolk Mead, carry on down to Meadside.

This house needed to reflect the style of other older Broads properties to fit in with the planners' requirements and I think you would actually never imagine this is a contemporary build from its exterior. Inside, however, is a different story because the vendors wanted sleek rooms with wooden floors which were easy to maintain, energy efficient as well as maximising the gorgeous setting so with large windows and with the principal rooms facing towards the river.

Being a new build meant it could be installed easily with an underground heat source pump supplying the heating system and solar energy for the hot water. This high efficiency means that at present the property has free energy with payback which will continue until December 2021.

The principal rooms all enjoy views out across the lawns to the river. The kitchen/dining area is partially open plan to the main sitting room with a double sided wood burner between the kitchen/dining area and the main sitting room. The accommodation has been arranged on the ground floor so that the current study can be used as a bedroom with an adjoining shower room and upstairs you have the master bedroom and two further bedrooms.

There is good storage in this property - designed by its owners to work for them and all the rooms are simply immaculate so no work to do.

Outside you have a long private drive with parking areas for many vehicles and there is also a large double garage/workshop with power and lighting as well as a thatched, three bay open cart lodge. Around the house are large paved terraces and pathways finished in a grey/green slate with the largest terrace on the south side overlooking the formal garden and River Bure beyond.

• Meadside, Church Loke, Coltishall, is for sale for £1million with Savills on 01603 229229.