Prince's House unveiled at Building Research Establishment

Pilot project is two years late but housing minister calls on architects to follow its traditional approach

Prince Charles’s eco home at the Building Research Establishment has been formally opened, two years later than originally planned.

The pilot project, formerly known as the Natural House and now called the Prince’s House, was unveiled today (Tuesday) at the BRE headquarters near Watford by housing minister Grant Shapps.

The design is billed as the Prince’s Foundation’s answer to eco-living and is a traditionally-built low carbon home made from natural materials, eschewing gadgets in favour of a highly efficient thermal shell.

A “hamlet” comprised of nine Prince’s Houses is currently being designed at Coed Darcy in Wales while the foundation is also exploring introducing a self-build version of the design.

The project was heavily delayed by the replacement of the developer and its reliance on work-in-kind during the recession.

Shapps welcomed the approach taken with the Prince’s House and called on housing architects to give consumers “traditional British properties”.

“We all know the Scandinavian-style homes that feature on property programmes - wearing their green credentials for all to see,” he said. “These are popular and display a high quality of design and craftsmanship. But a lack of creativity could mean this eco-bling dominates our neighbourhoods in as little as five years. I am clear that the beginning of zero carbon does not need to mean the end of Great British design.

“That’s why between now and 2016 when all new homes must be zero carbon, I want developers and designers to go back to their drawing boards and see how they can ’green up’ our traditional, British properties. People want to buy homes, not causes, and just because a home is greener does not mean it can’t reflect the character of the local area.

“And as we move towards 2016, I want local people themselves to have their say, working with the Design Council to shape the future designs of their area to make them cleaner and greener.”