Plans to build an eco-home on a former poultry farm have kicked up a stink among villagers.

Prof Peter Gutherie wants to build the new home and convert an existing building into a work studio on land near Lord Wandsworth College in Long Sutton.

He envisages creating a new sustainable, zero carbon home of “exceptional quality and innovative construction”.

Willow would be grown for use as biomass fuel and a domestic wind turbine would generate energy for the home.

Sufficient space would be provided for growing food and rainwater would be collected for some uses in the house instead of mains water.

But the green plan has made villagers see red. Many have sent letters of objection to Hart District Council, warning the scheme would ruin the countryside.

Among the first to object was Pamela van Moppes, who pointed out that the proposed home is outside the Long Sutton settlement boundary.

“Just because it is being designed as ‘eco-friendly’ to comply with the present government’s new exemptions from planning rules, it doesn’t follow that the applicant has a right to spoil this corner of the countryside,” she added.

Mrs van Moppes pointed out that access to the site is very poor, as all three lanes that lead to it are narrow.

She said a new home with all its outbuildings, cars and lights would disturb wildlife and the regular nesting barn owls would leave the area.

Mrs van Moppes added: “The plan to put up multiple owl nesting boxes just illustrates how ignorant the applicant is. Barn owls do no nest alongside others.

“To dress this scheme up as a resource for study of eco-friendly living is spurious. For it to be suggested that the pupils of Lord Wandsworth College, or even villagers, would find this interesting as a study for eco-friendly living is unrealistic.”

Mrs van Moppes pointed out that the site is alongside one of Long Sutton’s “loveliest” public footpaths, used by many villagers.

She added: “It is regularly walked by many, particularly in spring, as it is the direct route to the bluebells in woodland known as Chicory.

“The development, however ‘eco-friendly’, will be a blot on this presently unspoilt landscape.

“To give planning permis-sion to this development in the countryside where there is no previous record of a dwelling would set a dangerous precedent for others which would inevitably follow.”

Long Sutton resident Andrew Butcher said he had recent first-hand experience of living close to a biomass fuel system.

“Burning such fuel produces continuous, heavy, low-lying smoke, which clings to the ground causing respiratory irritation,” he warned.

“Members of my family and other local residents already suffer severe adverse effects by such forms of pollution.”

Mr Butcher said the proposed building’s location and design appeared wholly inappropriate, was outside the settlement boundary and not in sympathy with locally recognised building materials, methods or style.

He also said the proposal went against planning and conservation guidelines.

“Obviously it would become ripe for development if Poultry Farm were approved, severely diminishing the value of surrounding properties and pristine character of our countryside,” he added.

Mr Butcher pointed out the land had been the subject of a previous unsuccessful plan-ning bid and claimed the initial outline application was a “red herring”.

He added: “The reality is it’s a new build in the middle of a field in the middle of the countryside.

“It’s unfortunate the weight of opposition initially lodged was not considered more carefully by the applicant, who appears to be pouring money into this project.

“I do not have such resources. However, I am prepared to take direct action to ensure the environment my family and I have enjoyed for many years is preserved. I urge Hart District Council to reject this application at the earliest opportunity.”

However, a design and access statement prepared for Prof Gutherie by Hook-based chartered town planners Bell Cornwell defended the application.

It said the proposal conformed to a number of policies in Hart’s Local Plan blueprint.

It contributes to the government’s strategy for sustainable development by reducing emissions, the prudent use of natural resources and reducing the need to travel.

Bell Cornwell pointed out that mature trees would be preserved on the site and wildlife would be protected.

Hart District Council planning officers are still considering the scheme,  before it goes to the council’s planning committee.