Container homes: types, cost and planning permission in the UK
A container home is a dwelling made from a shipping container or from new modules with the same steel structure. There are three types: the adapted container, the expandable one, which opens out at the sides, and the foldable one, which arrives folded and unfolds on site. Insulation matters most for comfort. At Green Village there are modular and container homes in stock from £9,042, transport and installation included, VAT shown separately where it applies; in England, a container home put on a plot to live in normally needs planning permission like any other building.
The container home began with the reuse of shipping containers: strong steel boxes with standard dimensions that can be cut, insulated and joined. Today most container homes are not used containers but new modules made on the same principle — a steel structure, fixed dimensions and quick assembly on site.
This guide explains the types of container home, what it takes to make one comfortable, what makes the price vary and which permissions UK law asks for. It is published by Green Village Mobile Homes, which sells container homes in stock and, in its Personalize collection, made-to-measure expandable container houses.
What types of container home are there?
Container homes fall into three types, depending on how the module arrives and opens. All three can be used alone or combined, side by side or stacked, to make larger homes; the difference is the usable floor space each module offers and the work needed on site. The three types are:
- Adapted container — a 20 ft or 40 ft shipping container with openings cut for doors and windows, insulated and lined inside.
- Expandable container — a module that arrives closed and opens out its side walls, gaining floor space once installed.
- Foldable container — a module with hinged walls and roof that arrives folded and unfolds on site.
Units available now
Insulation and comfort: what to check
Steel conducts heat well, so the comfort of a container home depends almost entirely on insulation and ventilation. When comparing container homes, check:
- Insulation of walls, roof and floor, with the material and thickness given in the specification.
- Condensation control — ventilation and a vapour control layer, to stop moisture condensing on the steel.
- Corrosion protection of the steel structure, especially near the sea.
- Windows and glazing suited to the local climate.
- Services — whether electrics and plumbing are already fitted, and what is left to connect on site.
How much does a container home cost?
The price of a container home depends on the type of module, floor space, insulation, finishes and what the quote includes: base, transport, assembly, connections and VAT. A made-to-measure container home has a fixed price only once the design is complete; a module in stock has its delivered price set before you pay.
At Green Village, the modular and container homes in stock start at £9,042, with a median of £41,333, always with transport and installation included, VAT shown separately where it applies. See the container homes for sale, each with its own page, photos and floor space.
Planning permission for a container home in the UK
In England, putting a modular or container 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). A twin unit can instead count as a caravan under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 (s. 13): no more than two sections, assembled on site with bolts, clamps or other devices, physically capable of being moved by road once assembled, and no more than 20 m long, 6.8 m wide and 3.05 m high inside. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules; ask the local planning authority before you buy.
Being made of steel or arriving as a single module does not change the rule: what counts is how the home is installed and used. Before you buy, check with the local planning authority what the plot allows. The guide to planning permission in Europe compares other countries.
Pros and cons of a container home
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A strong steel structure and standard dimensions | Comfort depends on insulation and ventilation |
| Modules that join or stack to grow | The width of each module is fixed |
| Quick assembly on site, with little building work | Steel needs protection against corrosion, especially near the sea |
| In stock, the delivered price is known before you pay | Permissions follow the same rules as any other building and are decided by the local authority |
Container homes at Green Village
Green Village Mobile Homes sells ready-built homes from stock: new and used mobile homes, modular homes, container homes and tiny houses. Each unit has its own page, photos and the delivered price for the destination you choose, transport and installation included, 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. Each page shows the delivered price for 18 destinations; for any other country, Green Village sends a quote.
See the container homes and the prefab homes in stock — 72 units from £9,042 — and, to compare systems, the modular home guide. For an expandable container house made to measure, see the Personalize collection. Choose your country under ‘Import to’, at the top right of the site, and every page shows the price delivered there.
Green Village has 5 stores in 4 countries — Maia, Ribeirinha (Azores), Vigo, La Séguinière (by appointment) and Jundiaí.
In summary
- Container home = a dwelling with a steel container structure: adapted, expandable or foldable.
- Comfort depends on insulation, ventilation and corrosion protection.
- Compare prices with the same scope: base, transport, assembly, connections and VAT.
- In England, a container home on a plot to live in normally needs planning permission and must meet the Building Regulations.
Frequently asked questions
What is a container home?
It is a dwelling made from an adapted shipping container or from a new module with the same steel structure. It can be used alone or combined with other modules.
How much does a container home cost?
It depends on the type, floor space, insulation, finishes and what the price includes. At Green Village, the modular and container homes in stock start at £9,042 (median £41,333), transport and installation included, VAT shown separately where it applies.
What is the difference between an expandable and a foldable container?
The expandable one arrives closed and opens out its side walls, gaining floor space; the foldable one has hinged walls and roof that arrive folded and unfold on site.
Do you need planning permission for a container home in the UK?
In England, normally yes: placing a container 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 made of steel or delivered as a single module does not change that. Ask the local planning authority before you buy.
Is a container home hot in summer and cold in winter?
Without insulation, yes: steel conducts heat well. With insulated walls, roof and floor, ventilation and good windows, a container home can be comfortable all year. Check the insulation on each unit's page.
Where can I see container homes for sale with prices?
In the Green Village catalogue: each container home in stock has its own page, photos, floor space and the delivered price for the destination you choose. Green Village has 5 stores in 4 countries — Maia, Ribeirinha (Azores), Vigo, La Séguinière (by appointment) and Jundiaí.
Sources & references
- Town and Country Planning Act 1990, section 55 — meaning of development (legislation.gov.uk)
- Town and Country Planning Act 1990, section 57 — planning permission required (legislation.gov.uk)
- The Building Regulations 2010, regulation 3 — building work (legislation.gov.uk)
- Caravan Sites Act 1968, section 13 — twin-unit caravans (legislation.gov.uk)