Straw panel design to build house

Prefabricated straw bale panels will be used to build a house during a live television event.

The bales, which are rendered with lime, were designed by a lecturer at the University of the West of England.

Craig White first used the insulated panels for his design for the School of Architecture at the university in 2002.

They will be used for 'The House That Kevin Built' by Grand Design's Kevin McCloud during Grand Design Live starting this weekend.

'Flat packed'

The programme will feature Kevin McCloud's efforts to build a house in six days using cutting edge sustainable building techniques.

Each panel is assembled as near possible to the building site.

"We find a local farmer who has suitable straw bales, rent a nearby barn where we assemble the panels," said Craig White.

"The frames are flat packed and put together in the barn; they are then filled with straw bales and a lime render applied.

"This method of production means that the panels are using locally sourced materials and saves on expensive and environmentally damaging transport costs and the need for a central depot," he said.