David Webb and his wife Jane, who owns fashion store Jane's of Newmarket, watched as developers broke ground on the site at Station Approach overlooking Tattersalls.

The house has been specially designed to be ecologically accommodating and beneficial to the occupants' health.

German design company Baufritz, has made the house "thermally efficient" using a patented wall insulation system containing wood shavings.

The walls are also breathable which ensures condensation is removed from the inside atmosphere faster than it is generated.

"We wanted a bespoke house for ourselves and we wanted a town house within walking distance of the town centre," said Mr Webb.

"We are among first people to approach Baufritz to design as well as build the house. We got planning permission very quickly and the design is exactly what we want."

The house boasts an underground garage and capacity for six bedrooms.

Oliver Rehm, managing director of Baufritz, said the house will have extensive triple glazing to enhance views over Tattersalls.

Health benefits from living there have been jointly developed with doctors and building biologists to enhance the occupants' well-being.

"All materials in the house are biodegradable and untreated. They have been tested by universities and are toxin- free," said Mr Rehm.

"People can also react to building materials. Health problems include asthma and skin allergies."

Mr Rehm said the pre-fabricated structure, which is assembled by specialist teams in Germany, reduces the building time to two days.

The whole project should be completed by September.

Baufritz say the house is carbon positive, locking away on average 50 tonnes more carbon dioxide than is emitted during the construction and manufacture period.

Mr Rehm said similar buildings have been constructed in mainland Europe for 30 years, but so far only five exist in the UK.

He is confident the unique structure could be popular with British people because of the bespoke options offered by his company.

The Webbs currently live in Exning but say they are looking forward to spending time in their new home.