Portable Buildings rules

[Crofter]

A few years back I built a small house in compliance with Highland Council's 'Portable Buildings' definition, which exempted it from building control.

 

At the time, you were allowed to build in up to two sections. I see that this is no longer the case. Might be useful to know if you were thinking of going with this route.

 

Policy is here: https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/1346/bst_018_caravans_and_mobile_homes

 

My own question is this: at the time that I gained planning and completed the build, I could have added another section. I wonder if I can still do this, or if the change in policy will prevent that? I would still be within the same total size, but adding on to the existing structure is not really feasible without making it a second 'module' that has to be moved separately.

 

[ProDave]

That's an interesting change.  It seems it can be constructed from as many sections as you want, but once complete must be capable of being moved as one piece.  That seems to rule out the traditional wheeled twin unit mobile home.  While no doubt you could try moving that as one piece still bolted together, I suspect it may not work very well and the joint would separate and break.

 

Could your extension include a new "chassis" strapped underneath the whole thing so at least theoretically mean it could all be lifted as one?

[Crofter]

It always was the case that it could be assembled however you like, but the finished product had to be theoretically moveable in one or two sections. Now they seem to have tightened that so that it's single piece only. They've also specifically detailed how it must attach to its base, if it's not on wheels. 

 

I don't think it would be feasible for me to add more than a token lean-to under these new rules. Which is a shame, because I quite fancy adding about a 50% extension and moving in there myself. I think my only hope would be to go for a retrospective building warrant and give up on the whole portable building thing. Fortunately I think the build would meet building regs, with the exception of the access not being completely wheelchair compatible, but that could be changed.

[ProDave]

I would drop Building Control a line and question this change in policy and specifically the point about normal twin unit mobile homes which would no longer appear to qualify as "caravans" under this new interpretation.

[saveasteading]

6 hours ago, Crofter said:

single piece only.

Could this be hoisted by crane onto a lorry, either with chains underneath, or cleats fixed onto very strong struts?

 

You can see why they have done this I think. how many 20m  'caravans' are never, and could never be, moved.

[ProDave]

3 hours ago, saveasteading said:

Could this be hoisted by crane onto a lorry, either with chains underneath, or cleats fixed onto very strong struts?

 

You can see why they have done this I think. how many 20m  'caravans' are never, and could never be, moved.

That's what the "static" in "static caravan" is all about.  They don't move apart from when they are delivered or when they are removed at end of life.

 

Traditionally a static caravan was limited to about 10ft wide for road transport reasons, though larger can be transported with additional restrictions like needing an escort vehicle.  So to make a large static home, twin unit residential caravans were made.  2 separate typically 10ft wide caravans that when on site bolt side by side to each other to make a 20ft wide home.  If you ever expect to move one you would uncouple the 2 halves and move them as 2 separate units.  That I am sure is where the original must me moveable in no more than 2 parts came from.

 

This amendment to the HC definition of a "caravan" has been poorly thought out and appears to exclude twin unit mobile homes that are genuinely caravans on wheels, from building regulations exemption.  I would like to see that contested.  Are the HC really going to insist a twin unit mobile home would require building regulations?  which it would fail as they are built to different regulations?

 

It sounds to me like they have bade a huge cock up with this update to their policy note, and it needs challenging.

[Crofter]

1 hour ago, saveasteading said:

Could this be hoisted by crane onto a lorry, either with chains underneath, or cleats fixed onto very strong struts?

 

You can see why they have done this I think. how many 20m  'caravans' are never, and could never be, moved

I'm not sure why they've changed it. If they think people are taking the mick building enormous portable buildings, why not just restrict the allowable size?

[saveasteading]

59 minutes ago, ProDave said:

appears to exclude twin unit mobile homes that are genuinely caravans on wheels,

'capable of being towed' , it says.

[Crofter]

11 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

'capable of being towed' , it says.

But it prevents you putting two units together.

[ProDave]

9 hours ago, saveasteading said:

'capable of being towed' , it says.

As one unit.  Which I don't believe is possible.