Building work has begun on a £1.4 million Derbyshire centre to maintain traditional rural construction skills and promote education for sustainable development.

Derbyshire County Council is building its new Eco Centre alongside the National Stone Centre in Wirksworth.

The new centre, which is due to open in September 2010, will expand the number of courses the authority offers to help maintain the area's rural built heritage.

Courses will be run in partnership with the National Stone Centre and will include dry stone walling, stone masonry, hedge laying and roofing skills.

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There will also be courses to promote rural crafts, the arts and environment, energy saving and renewable energy technologies.

The Eco Centre and its surrounding landscape will be built to become the county council's first excellent rated building under the benchmark Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Measure (BREEAM).

Sustainable methods will be used in the centre's construction including a grassed roof for insulation, rainwater collection for use in toilets, an air source heat pump to heat the building, and solar panels to heat water.

Councillor Mike Longden, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education, said: "Derbyshire has a proud history of rural building skills and we are committed to helping preserve them.

"The courses we provide already have a very good national reputation and this is an exciting expansion of that.

"The new Eco Centre will offer opportunities for people of all ages – with adult learning courses, school links, events for all the family, support for voluntary groups and activities to help local businesses."

(CD/GK)