Powered by a dedicated ‘smart grid’, electricity will be supplied and tracked across a network of homes to ensure this first phase of homes will be 100% gas-free.

The innovation is believed to be the first to be used by a major developer as St Modwen continues to pioneer sustainable new ways to build and power homes.

The smart grid design is being developed alongside SNRG, specialists in next-generation energy infrastructure.

This latest move follows a landmark trial earlier this year to build homes so airtight that they can return power to the UK grid.

By using the latest construction techniques and renewable technologies like solar panels and heat pumps, the homes are designed to produce more energy than they consume and could reduce a family’s total energy bills by 76% when compared with a standard new-build house.

Aspects of this trial will be deployed in the new electric homes and in turn across all new developments by St Modwen as carbon-reducing technology becomes standard.

Sarwjit Sambhi, CEO of St. Modwen, said: “Every organisation needs to be taking steps to deliver more sustainable products and services, but at St Modwen we have taken leaps by introducing carbon-negative homes and smart-grid powered developments.

“We’re proving that greener homes can be delivered at commercial scale, something which is not just the right thing for the environment but also allows us to meet the demand of our customers.”

Detailed planning for the first phase of the scheme is currently with the local authority, with work due to start this Autumn.