A standalone, permanent container home needs full planning permission from the local planning authority and Building Regulations approval.[1][2]
Coming soon
Contentar is coming to the UK
Contentar shows what a shipping container home really costs before you commit: a cost calculator with VAT, floor plans checked against the building rules, the permit process and a step-by-step guide.
It is live for Portugal and Spain. We are now preparing the version for the UK: rules, costs and suppliers.
Notify me when it opensWhat we already know about the UK
The rules below are for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own planning and building systems.
A unit within the legal caravan size (up to 20 m × 6.8 m, 3.05 m internal height, movable in one piece) used as part of an existing home, for family or guests, usually needs no planning permission. Living in it as a separate home does.[3][4]
The national space standard asks for 37 m² for a one-bedroom home for one person with a shower, and 50 m² for two people on one floor, where the council has adopted it.[5]
One builder sells the same 40 × 12 ft home at £36,995 in its standard (caravan) version and at £64,950 plus VAT built to Building Regulations.[6]
A summary of our research, October 2026. Rules change and can vary by region or municipality: check with your local authority before you buy or build.
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Already live
See how it works today, with the rules and costs of Portugal and Spain: