Capsule homes (glamping pods): prices, sizes and planning permission in the UK
A capsule home — also called a capsule house or glamping pod — is a compact, round-edged module built in a factory, used for glamping, as a guest room or as a garden office. Green Village has 44 in stock, from £11,167, with a median price of £18,771, VAT shown separately where it applies. In England, a capsule put on a plot to live in normally needs planning permission and must meet the Building Regulations.
Capsule homes are compact modules with a closed shell and large glazed panels, built in a factory and transported to the plot. They are used mostly for glamping and holiday accommodation, but also as an extra bedroom, a reception, a garden office or a studio.
This guide explains the sizes and versions that exist, what to check in the insulation, what they cost by budget, which warranty they carry and which permissions UK law asks for. It is published by Green Village Mobile Homes, which sells capsule homes in stock.
What types and sizes of capsule home are there?
Capsules differ in size, shell material and the version they are sold in:
- Small pods, about 2 to 4 m long — a glamping room, a reception, a workstation or a garden office.
- Modules of about 5 to 12 m, which can combine a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom in one volume.
- Double configurations — two modules joined, for a larger floor area.
- Shell in aluminium or aluminium composite panel (ACP) on a galvanised steel frame, in carbon fibre, or in translucent polycarbonate on a steel chassis (the ‘sail’ houses).
- Versions: base (the shell only, no partitions), complete (with bathroom and kitchen) or furnished.
Units available now
Insulation and comfort: what to check
In a capsule, the shell and the glazing cover almost the whole surface, so comfort depends on insulation, window frames and ventilation. When comparing capsules, check on the unit's page:
- Insulation of the shell and the floor, with the material given.
- Glazing and frames suited to the local climate — strong sun in summer, cold and damp in winter.
- Heating and cooling included or not: some versions come with air conditioning.
- Version: a base version is an unfitted shell; complete and furnished versions already have a bathroom, kitchen and equipment.
- Services — whether electrics and plumbing are already fitted, and what is left to connect on site.
How much does a capsule home cost?
The price of a capsule home depends on its size, shell, version (base, complete or furnished) and equipment. At Green Village, the 44 capsules in stock start at £11,167 and have a median price of £18,771, VAT shown separately where it applies. Transport is organised by Mobile Home Logistic, included in the price and insured at 100 % of the home's value.
See the capsule homes for sale, each with its own page, photos, dimensions and the delivered price for the destination you choose. How many fit each budget (delivered price, VAT shown separately):
| Budget | Capsules in stock | Median price |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £17,500 | 20 | £13,834 |
| Up to £25,000 | 25 | £14,333 |
| Up to £40,000 | 32 | £15,313 |
| Up to £85,000 | 41 | £17,625 |
| All | 44 | £18,771 |
Planning permission for a capsule home in the UK
In England, putting a capsule home on a plot to live in is normally development: the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 defines development as carrying out building or other operations on land (s. 55) and requires planning permission for any development of land (s. 57), and erecting a building is building work under the Building Regulations 2010 (reg. 3). Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules; ask the local planning authority before you buy.
Being small or arriving as a single module does not change the rule: what counts is how the capsule is installed and used. Before you buy, check with the local planning authority what the plot allows; if the capsules are for glamping or holiday lets, ask also which rules apply to that use. The guide to planning permission in Europe compares other countries.
Pros and cons of a capsule home
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built in a factory, with the delivered price known before you pay | Comfort depends on insulation, glazing and ventilation |
| Sizes from an office pod to modules with a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom | The floor area of each module is fixed |
| Works as a glamping room, guest room or garden office | Base versions arrive unfitted |
| Large glazed panels and rounded lines | Permissions follow the rules for any other building and are decided by the local authority |
Capsule homes in stock at Green Village
Green Village Mobile Homes sells ready-built homes from stock: new and used mobile homes, modular homes, container homes, capsules and tiny houses. Each unit has its own page, photos and the delivered price for the destination you choose, VAT shown separately where it applies. Each page shows the delivered price for 18 destinations; for any other country, Green Village sends a quote.
Warranty: new capsules carry the 3-year legal guarantee of conformity from delivery (Portuguese Decree-Law 84/2021); each unit's page states the warranty that applies.
See the capsule homes for sale and, to compare systems, the container home and modular home guides. Choose your country under ‘Import to’, at the top right of the site, and every page shows the price delivered there.
In summary
- Capsule home = a compact module built in a factory, for glamping, an extra room or a garden office.
- There are small pods, modules with a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, and double configurations, in base, complete or furnished versions.
- Comfort depends on the insulation, glazing, ventilation and heating or cooling given on the unit's page.
- In England, a capsule on a plot to live in normally needs planning permission (TCPA 1990, s. 57): ask the local planning authority before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a capsule home?
It is a compact, round-edged module built in a factory, with a shell in aluminium, composite, carbon fibre or polycarbonate and large glazed panels. It is used for glamping and holiday accommodation, as a guest room, a reception or a garden office.
How much does a capsule home cost?
At Green Village, the capsule homes in stock start at £11,167, with a median price of £18,771, VAT shown separately where it applies. The price rises with size and version: base, complete or furnished. Transport is organised by Mobile Home Logistic, included in the price and insured at 100 % of the home's value.
What sizes of capsule home are there?
From pods about 2 to 4 m long, for a glamping room or a garden office, to modules of about 5 to 12 m with a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, and double configurations of two modules. Each page gives the dimensions and floor area.
Do you need planning permission for a capsule home in the UK?
In England, normally yes: putting a capsule home on a plot to live in is development under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (s. 55), which needs planning permission (s. 57), and the work must comply with the Building Regulations 2010. Being small or delivered as a single module does not change that. Ask the local planning authority before you buy.
Can you live in a capsule home all year round?
It depends on the model and the permission. Complete and furnished versions have a bathroom, kitchen and insulation, and some air conditioning; base versions are an unfitted shell. To live in one on a plot, it normally needs planning permission, like any other home.
What warranty does a capsule home have?
New capsules carry the 3-year legal guarantee of conformity from delivery (Portuguese Decree-Law 84/2021). Each unit's page states the warranty that applies.