https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/05/pilates-influencer-angers-neighbours-with-garden-studio/ https://archive.ph/k4xu7 - telegraph shed article
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/wendy-house-must-be-pulled-down-after-parents-refused-planning-permission-10499848.html
What 'SIZE' is a 'Caravan' according to Skerritt ⚖️
What 'SIZE' is a 'Caravan' according to Skerritt ⚖️
We designed the igloo in accordance with the 2006 the s13(2) Caravan Sites Act 1968. The igloo is lightweight and moveable in whole by human power. The act includes dimensions. The act states that the unit cannot have more than two compartments.
Height - 3.2m or 10'6" (floor to ceiling)
Length - 20m or 65'7"
Width - 6.8m or 22'6"
These dimensions far exceed legal towing dimensions. For sake of ease many of our designs are sized specifically for haulage; see the product descriptions to check which igloo is designed for which type of goods vehicle.
What shape is a 'Caravan' according to Skerritt
What shape is a 'Caravan' according to Skerritt
Skerritts Test does not explicitly state what shapes are/are not protected by the caravan act; However legal precedence show that 'non conventional building shape' and 'non conventional building materials' strengthen the owners hand when both claiming the unit is a Caravan and claiming the unit is Plant and Machinary (Tax)
Streamlined design for wind resistant and rehaulage.
Must be used a human occupation; standardized doors.
Must be moveable; sled/skid or wheels
Like most companies we made sure we designed all our range to include Permitted Development Rights to strengthen your hand and give you options if the worst comes to the worst and for deposit holders we offer our services pro-bono and can inspect your local planning authorities guidelines.
Permitted Dev Size
Permitted Dev Size
We designed the igloo in accordance with Permitted Development Rights too. In this case the user can fix permeant foundations and hardwiring and have a secondary layer of legal protection.
Height - 2.5 m or (ground to eaves)
Area - half of the original exterior (internal area)
No volume above 2.5m can exist within 2m of a boundary
In National Parks, AONB and WHS the floor area is capped at 10m2
It is important that the igloo is placed correctly. We designed the igloos to be able to get closer than 2m to the boundary with the roof pitch ducking under the privacy line. See the product descriptions and print them out in A4 to scale.
What 'Shape' is a Permitted Dev
What 'Shape' is a Permitted Dev
These shapes
Domes, Barrels and other igloos can be built up to 3m in most cases.
Dual pitched roofs can be built up to 4m; but the eaves still have to be 2.5m
Flat roofs can be built up to 4m; an additional parapit does not count to the figure.
These measurements are a bit misleading and different councils have their own take on what a dual pitched roof actually is !
City Councils tend to be harsher than County Councils. To some any shape of roof is permissable as long as nothing is over 4m; and all material that is 2m from the boundary is below 2.5m.
City Councils tend to be harsher than County Councils. To some any shape of roof is permissable as long as nothing is over 4m; and all material that is 2m from the boundary is below 2.5m.
What counts as 'PERMENANT' according to Skerritt
What counts as 'PERMENANT' according to Skerritt
We designed the igloo in accordance with the 2006 the s13(2) Caravan Sites Act 1968. The igloo is moveable in whole by human power and towable too. There are no need for wheels;
Density - 80kg/m3 (of solid volume)
Total Average Density - 25kg/m3 (open volume)
Vertical movement (5 - 10 people)
Horizontal Movement (2-3 people)
The recycled expanded plastic composite is set on a recycled polyethylene glass fibre composite sled/skid foundation. Delivered in two parts and attatched with temporary/removeable mechanical fittings.
Haulage Dimensions
Haulage Dimensions
We designed the igloo in accordance with the 2006 the s13(2) Caravan Sites Act 1968. The igloo is moveable in whole by human power and towable too. Features include.
Max Width - 2.55 ('Normal Load')
Length - 12m - ('Standard Trailer')
Height - 4.95m
These dimensions are for UK HGVs; our small designs are suitable for the 3.5t classification. This weight figure describes the type of vehicle. We designed the igloo to be rehaul able by a UK driving licence holder - thus proving that igloos are classed as caravans and protected from planning enforcement.
Rehaul Dimensions
Rehaul Dimensions
We designed the igloo to be moveable by the the owner of the land. This greatly strengthens the households hand in planning disputes. All the GardenOffice can be rehauled the following licences.
Cat B - For drivers passed after 1997 (3.5t)
Cat C1 - For drivers passed since 1997 (7.5t)
Cat B+E -
This means that a standard Ford Transit flatbed, or a standard trailer can always be used to rehaul and does not require anything more than a traditional driving licence.
'Abnormal Load'
'Abnormal Load'
For loads wider than the 2.9 we need to notify the authorities, subcontract a compliant company. Delivery is not included in price for this reason; use our total project cost calculator to work it out.
3.5 m wide: 2 clear working day' notice to police.
6.1 m: VR1 notice and police escort.
6.1 m wide: BE16 Special Order
'PHYSICAL ATTATCHMENT' by Skerrit
'PHYSICAL ATTATCHMENT' by Skerrit
The third part of Skerrits test considers how the unit is attached to the ground. A caravan requires "low attachment".
No foundations
No fixings into the ground
No hardwired electrics or permenant plumbing.
The household can wire the interior as normal but no trenches can be dug. The cables must be easily detachable, think of an extension cable. Plumbing is not recommended as this would dramatically weaken your hand in a dispute; however people have been known to use push fittings.
'LOW ATTATCHMENT' by Skerrit
'LOW ATTATCHMENT' by Skerrit
The igloo is designed to be owned as private property and not as a development (owned too by the community). The way the igloo is attached is key to this definition.
Skid/Sled Foundation
Tensile Fixings
IP rated plug and play umbilical electrics.
This shows the dichotomy of this design challenge. A caravan must be light enough satisfy the claim of it being a temporary ancillary unit; but heavy enough to handle lateral wind loads without a foundation. Our igloos are smalll and streamlined to reduce this issue, but key to this law the walls, roof and floor are made of expanded plastic foam for lightness and the skid foundation sub floor is made of a heavy recycled plastic composite. Users may disassemble an igloo into two pieces to haul long distances.
Precedence
Precedence
Legal Precedence uses past cases to instruct on new. Below are two examples of households who successfully appealed neighbours complaints. We build the lightest units for volume in the world, ours go way further than these examples, which all proved they could be 'craned out'.
Hillingdon (London) — 2017 — APP/R5510/X/16/3166035
Gravesham (Kent) — 2013 — APP/K2230/X/13/2190398
Ilkley (Wesy Yorkshire) - 2023 - APP/Y2320/X/19/2140392
Like most companies we made sure we designed all our range to include Permitted Development Rights to strengthen your hand and give you options if the worst comes to the worst and for deposit holders we offer our services pro-bono and can inspect your local planning authorities guidelines.
So what?
So what?
- An igloo is made of recycled expanded plastic. The Eskimo builds from what is around him. In the UK 1/3rd of land fill is Styrofoam, so we build with it.
2. The Igloo is cut by a computer controlled hot-wire. The Eskimo uses a pana (snow knife) at carefully controlled angles, so we cut this way too. (read more)
2. The Igloo is cut by a computer controlled hot-wire. The Eskimo uses a pana (snow knife) at carefully controlled angles, so we cut this way too. (read more)
3. The Igloo is lightweight and haulable by hand. The Eskimo's igloo simply melts away. Our version is classed as Plant and Machinery, for many tax (read more) and planning (read above) benefits.
3. The Igloo is lightweight and haulable by hand. The Eskimo's igloo simply melts away. Our version is classed as Plant and Machinery, for many tax (read more) and planning (read above) benefits.
SUPERSIP® is a system made by IGLOO CIC; a research group.
Silicone and Aramid (Kevlar) is used very thinnly on the outside. It provides good impact resistance and increases the compressive strength, even though fibreglass it is traditionally used for waterproofing our XPS structure is already waterproof. GRP is used for UV resistance; and aesthetical reasons.
Urethanes
Urethanes, Methyl and Poly are used for jointing; this 'sticky foam' forms carmite links easily in polyisocyanurate and it more of the same material; the chemical bond is very strong because of material homogeneity ; Much like how concrete blocks are joined with cement based mortar and limestone requires lime mortar and timber is joined by cellulose based glues. This creates uninterupted insulation heat and air tight.
Polyiso/Polystyrene
Polyisocyanurate is used internally in walls, floors and roofs. This is a fireproof material at this small scale. Extruded polystyrene is used for the exterior - the build up is inspired by surfboards and wetrooms. We source our XPS locally from a recyling supply chain that starts with EPS; the foam you are familar with - which makes up 1/3 or landfill.
Epoxy.
Epoxy resin is used to waterproof the igloo to the level of a boat; and seals the joints after the build up is complete; this covering phase is the last phase. If your household has no hardstanding; we build a deck out of structural composite material, (a recycled plastic, epoxy fibreglass version of wood)
Rebar.
We use a very thin gauge of steel rebar to add tensile reinforcement; you may want added security protection from Kevlar, or a smooth finish from the higher grenades of woven roving fibreglass - but this is not essential to the load bearing capacity; the steel provides both reinforcement and a mechanical fix clamping the expanding sticky foam which will cure over many days to a solid finish. The steel does not join so excellent sound proofing is maintained.
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