STATE-OF-THE-ART energy efficient homes near Fareham are set to give a glimpse into the future of the Welborne development.

The six 'Passivhaus' homes, which will cost a total of £1million and be built at Coldeast Close, Sarisbury Green, would be the first of their kind in Fareham.

The construction method uses a high amount of insulation and creates specific air circulation conditions to significantly reduce energy bills.

Fareham Council has set a target of ensuring that 10 per cent of homes in the Welborne Plan will be Passivhaus certified.

The Welborne Plan would involve building 6,000 homes, 100,000 square metres of shops and four schools on land near Fareham, although an independent inspector has highlighted a number of shortcomings in the proposals.

A council report says: “The exemplar housing scheme aims to explore the challenges of achieving the exacting Passivhaus standard and showcase the benefits of doing so, both to house builders and local residents.

“It is anticipated that the project will demonstrate that Passivhaus is a viable method of achieving highly energy efficient housing.

“The knowledge gained from this project will serve to inform future housing development at Welborne, where 10 per cent of new homes will be built to Passivhaus standard, and in the borough as a whole.”

The council's executive will tonight decide whether to approve the plans and enter into a contract with developers Interserve Construction Limited to complete the project.

The six two-bedroom homes will have individual back gardens and will be let at “affordable” rents to households registered on the council's housing waiting list.

If approved construction will begin in early Spring and will take about a year to complete.

The Passivhaus standard, which increases energy efficiency to the point that traditional central heating is unnecessary, was developed in Germany in the early 1990s.

Very high insulation is prioritised, along with a mechanical ventilation system and using “high-performance windows”.