BBC NEWS | Wales | South West Wales | Plans submitted = for eco-village

Lammas, the group behind the bid, said if approved, the community = would be a=20 model of low-impact green development.=20

The village at Glandwr near the Preseli mountains would be built from = natural=20 materials such as turf, wood and straw.=20

But some local residents have concerns, and there may be objections = when they=20 go before councillors.=20

The application was being submitted under the council's new Low = Impact=20 Development policy on Friday.=20

The detailed plans amounted to 15 box files and were delivered to the = county=20 council in a wheelbarrow.=20

It was drawn-up to govern such developments following the protracted = dispute=20 over the roundhouse at Brithdir Mawr, near Newport.=20

Lammas spokesman Paul Wimbush said: "We want to build a low impact = community=20 on 76 acres of former grazing land based on the traditional model of a = village=20 but brought into the 21st century by the use of cutting-edge green=20 technologies."=20

He said the nine small holdings and a central community building = would blend=20 into the existing landscape.=20

The houses would incorporate sustainable technologies such as solar = heating,=20 rainwater harvesting and electricity from renewable sources such as wind = and=20 water.=20

None of the buildings would be connected to any sewerage or power = mains.=20

The development policy requires 75% of all household needs to be met = directly=20 from the land.=20

Mr Wimbush said there would be a broad spectrum of enterprises = ranging from=20 strawberry production to basketry, smoked hams to woollen crafts.=20

Residents will need to share vehicles and there would be a seasonal = campsite=20 where visitors would be charged according to how they travel to the site = to=20 reduce car journeys.=20

Opposition

But villager Julia Phillipson said many residents had concerns about = the=20 plans and believe the site would be "entirely unsuitable" for such a = project.=20

The local climate, a lack of infrastructure and roads in the area, = the=20 sustainability of such small holdings and the possibility of expansion = were=20 among the reasons for their opposition, she said.=20

"We are not against similar initiatives because we all understand the = need=20 for such eco-projects, but just not this particular project on this = particular=20 site," she said.=20

The local county councillor for the area Lynn Davies said he would = study the=20 proposals closely before making-up his mind.=20

But he added: "I'm aware of a lot of concerns locally."