A VISION of the future is going up at Poundbury in the form of some of the most environmentally-friendly homes in the country.

Architect Kim Slowe is seeing the results of extensive research into sustainable building materials, green energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness as six unique 'green' houses are erected at the development.

He is hoping that the houses will provide the blueprint for all future development at Prince Charles' dream village near Dorchester.

The terrace of six large houses, which could sell for around £300,000 each, is already up to the second floor. The walls are being constructed of thermalite blocks made from recycled potash from power stations.

They are also being built with a minimum scraping of mortar between each block, so that they offer the maximum insulation, and the insulation between the inner and outer walls is three times the thickness of the old minimum standard.

Mr Slowe, who owns Dorchester-based Cornhill Estates, is also intending to use sheep's wool to provide further insulation against the elements and retain the maximum amount of heat in the three-storey properties.

He said: "I'm trying to prove that you can build something dramatically more energy efficient than the norm in a cost-effective way, but houses that people want to live in, that don't impact on their quality of life.

"In fact, I like the houses so much I am building my family a house in the same area."

People with allergies will find that their symptoms disappear when living in one of the new houses, claims Mr Slowe.

The unique system of pumping air from the 'wet' rooms - kitchens and bathrooms - will mean that 90 per cent of the heat generated in those rooms will be recovered and he says this will keep the houses naturally air conditioned. And ceilings will not be built into the inner wall, as is usual, but are bolted on to them, to seal out the elements even more.

Former RAF Commander Mr Slowe said: "The houses will be twice as efficient as the best houses built today.

"All the water from the baths, basins and showers will be reused to flush the toilets which means that 40 per cent of the average household's water consumption is saved.

"And the properties will have the latest solar heating system which will provide 80 per cent of the heating requirements in the houses, which will be the largest in Poundbury at more than 2,500 square feet.

"They should be completed by late spring or early summer next year and I hope they will be the template for all future housing at Poundbury."