This innovative home is giving a whole new meaning to the name ’greenhouse’.

Ashdowne House is literally growing from its corner plot in rural Santon, close to the Steam Railway station.

Complete with ’living wall’ vegetation, it’s the brainchild of millionaire Mark Shuttleworth.

Planning approval was granted in 2012 for the demolition of the existing building and its replacement with this substantial modern home (12/00355/B).

Two previous proposals, which resembled a traditional Manx farmhouse, were rejected due to their visual impact.

Living wall or ’vertical garden’ technology has not been used in the island before, certainly not to this extent.

The majority of the planting is evergreen to ensure the sub-structure is always concealed and to provide rain-screen cladding but the idea is for this to be scattered with a few native perennials to add seasonal interest.

It is important that the wall is maintained in the same way as a garden is cared for, the planning application pointed out. Gardening staff will be trained in its upkeep and its condition monitored by the specialist supplier using remote sensors.

Mr Shuttleworth, who has dual South African and British nationality, was named on the Sunday Times Rich list as the sixth wealthiest man in the Isle of Man, with a fortune of £500m, up by £340m the previous year.

He spent £13m in 2002 to become the second tourist in space.

His wealth is due to the success of his business Canonical, which uses the Ubuntu open source software it developed to allow televisions, cars and other devices to connect to the web.

Netflix, Tesla and Deutsche Telekom are among 800 clients of the London-based operation.

Mr Shuttleworth, who lives in nearby Mallards House and owns the Old School House and a substantial amount of surrounding land, also has planning consent for a botanical garden including water cascade, amphitheatre and Japanese garden.