Housebuilder David Wilson Homes is starting a research project to rethink the conventional house.
It will develop two houses that incorporate fresh design ideas and technologies and invite families to "test drive" them by living in them temporarily and reporting back on their experiences.

The housebuilder will be fine-tuning the design of the homes over the summer and has brought together a focus group of external experts to contribute to the process.

They include Professor Saffa Riffat of Nottingham University's school of the built environment and Sue Micklewright, a consumer scientist.

The company is also offering manufacturers the chance to use the house as a testbed for materials and equipment.

Sites have been identified for the four-bedroom houses at Elvetham Heath in Hampshire and Lodge Moor in Sheffield.