A cluster of striking eco-homes taking shape in Manchester has become an unlikely flashpoint in the debate over how Britain builds its way to net zero. The scheme, characterised by its unconventional angular forms, dark timber cladding and visible sustainability features such as solar arrays and air-source heat pumps, has split local opinion between those who see genuine architectural innovation and residents who regard it as a jarring intrusion into an established streetscape. The row is a microcosm of a much larger question now facing planning committees, developers and investors across the country: can the UK deliver the low-carbon housing stock it needs without triggering the kind of local opposition that has historically stalled ambitious schemes?