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General: Container House

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthoranajoly
    • CommentTimeOct 29th 2007 edited
     
    Hi,
    We are planning to build a container house in the UK. Does anyone have any idea how difficult it is to get a planning permission for it?
    Many thanks,

    Ana
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeOct 29th 2007
     
    Just as difficult as with any other building.
    • CommentAuthoranajoly
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    Really? Oh... We've heard that it could be seen as a mobile house so it would be easier to get the planning permission... But, we still trying to find out what has to be done.
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    Has it got wheels then?
    • CommentAuthorjon
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    It is easier to get planning for a temporary structure (say 5 years). But you may have to remove or demolish it after 5 years or whatever the agreement is.

    This is probably the wrong site to be asking this question unless you know exactly why you want to build a container home (and it's a reason that makes sense from an environmental point of view)
    • CommentAuthoranajoly
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    Thanks for your comments.

    No it does not have wheels but is a temporary structure. It's a container with electric and water connection which can be moved anytime anywhere.

    I am sorry if I asked this in the worng site, I am trying to find someone that have built a container home in the UK. We want to build it because it makes sense from an environmental point of view, they are eco-friendly. However, the style of the house may prevent it from getting a planning permission in several areas here in England.
    • CommentAuthorjon
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    Why do you think they are eco-friendly anajoly?
    • CommentAuthoranajoly
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    Because these containers already exist, if they are used as homes will not become metal mountains in port neighborhoods. So, I am not an expert and just started researching this, but I think they are greener than a regular house because they are made of recycled material, it is better to reuse them and save our natural resources.
    • CommentAuthorSaint
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    Anajoly, you're quite correct...its a fairly well tested application. Have a look at the following and their arguments

    http://www.containercity.com/
    http://www.tempohousing.com/

    There are many other examples globally, certainly in Spain,Thailand and Japan that I know of
    • CommentAuthorjon
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    The embodied content of a container is exceptionally high. Whilst it may make sense to re-use discarded products, if the demand for those products rises to the point where it impacts on second hand prices then the viability of buying new rather than re-using for shipping becomes higher for the original intended purpose (ie shipping). This would be the exact reverse of the intention and contribute further to global warming.

    So, a great idea providing that the production of such houses does not impact on second hand pricing of the original containers or if the containers that are being used have been certified as no longer suitable for shipping.

    Steel containers also act as a massive sink to conduct heat losses to any point at which a 'cold bridge' may exist (heat sink would be a better word).
    • CommentAuthorOliver
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    Hi Anna,
    Where exactly are you guys plannng on building?
    I have some friends who lived in container city for a time if you'd be interested in contacting them, i think their main problems were it was always fairly cold within, so insulate intelligently, and the need to go outside to a communal shower every morning..... fine in principal but in an English winter in an exposed spot on the Thames...? I think it got them down in the end.
    Environmentally, using what would otherwise be undoubtably waste is nearly always a good idea, just make sure you do everything else with the same priorities in mind, and plan plan plan!
    Being involved in any project like that will be a great experience, I'm jealous! Good Luck!
    • CommentAuthorOliver
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    good point about finding the right 'useless' containers Jon.
    • CommentAuthorOliver
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    p.p.s this is the perfect website to be airing your ideas on! Some of the members pack very few punches but it's nearly always very usefull food for thought.
    • CommentAuthoranajoly
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    Hi Oliver,
    Thanks a lot fo your support! We are just starting the planning phase. We did not find anything available at the Container City and we live in Surrey and would not want to move to London, so we are thinking in buying our own container house with toilet and shower. We will make sure the container we will use have been certified as no longer suitable for shipping, as Jon suggested.
    We are really interested in contacting your friends that lived in Container City. Would be great to hear someone that actually had this experience.
    But as I said we are still in the first stage, trying to find out where would be good to buy a plot and the planning permission would be granted to make a house with containers. We also contacted some containers business and their prices are really afordable, half of the price to build a traditional house. So, we might build our house buying containers or buy a ready one made of containers... It might take a while, but we have no hurry at the moment, and will plan as much as possible to make this concret.
    Thanks again for all comments!
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    Absolute first principle - all insulation must go outside the steel shell, otherwise it's a supremely efficient recipe for interstitial condensation i.e insulation saturated with water condensation, internal mouldiness etc.

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