THINGS TO KNOW

1 There are now several specialist companies, including Boutique Modern

(boutiquemodern.co.uk) and Habitat Mobile Homes (ecomobilehomes.com) that create bespoke mobile homes. You

can also buy cabins off-the-peg.

2 You can’t secure a residential mortgage on a mobile home, but loans can be sought from banks or specialist mobile home finance providers. See Find Out More…

National Caravan Council (below left).

3 Most mobile homes are pre-fabricated off-site in a factory and constructed from

SIPs (structural insulated panels).

5 A large mobile home may arrive (and

depart) by transporter lorry and be craned into place intact, or put together

on-site, so access is crucial.

6 Typical materials include cedar or chestnut cladding, as at Forest Lodge, shiplap or high-performance heavy-duty plastic. In a National Park, rules for what

is most suitable locally will be strict.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS According to the Caravan Sites

Act 1968, a ‘caravan’ should be:

Transferable

A structure and not a building

Fit for human habitation

Capable of being moved from place to place, once assembled

Its dimensions must not:

Exceed 20m in length and 6.8m in width

or be higher internally than 3.05m.

4 Modern mobile homes are usually super-insulated, include innovative energy and water-saving features and

as maintenance-free as possible.

NATIONAL PARK LIVING

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the

National Parks Act, which established 15 National Parks in the UK. They must abide by the Environment Act 1995, which aims to ‘conserve and enhance the natural beauty,

wildlife and cultural heritage’.

‘In general terms, in a National Park, a replacement dwelling or extension is often more likely to be considered acceptable than

a new-build scheme,’ says planning expert Sally Tagg of Foxley Tagg Planning. ‘Design,

materials and scale are considerations, but the focus and nature of each National Park is different, and therefore understanding local policy is key before considering a project.’