Is it possible to put a container in your garden?
Last Updated on January 20, 2025
This is a very common question. Will I have enough room? Do I need planning permission? Is the ground suitable to support a container? What would I use it for? Do I have the necessary access to site a container? These are some of the questions we will address in the following article.
Containers come in various sizes – 10ft x 8ft, 20ft x 8ft and 40ft x 8ft. The doors are 4ft wide each so sufficient space would be necessary for these to open fully. They sit on 6-inch x 7-inch castings on the corners only, which would need to be supported (the 40fts requiring further support along the length in a few places). The best surface to support a container would be a concrete base or concrete pads for the corners to sit on. Railway sleepers and blocks are also suitable. Grass is not the best surface to site a container on as it is not always solid, so the container is prone to movement. Tarmac can soften, so is not the best surface either.
Access to the site is a very important factor as this will determine whether a delivery is possible. For a 10ft or 20ft container, you will require access for a vehicle approximately 40ft long x 10ft wide (including the wing mirrors), with a further 10ft width required where the vehicle is offloading to put legs out (each side) to stabilise the vehicle.
For a 40ft container, the vehicle will be approximately 60ft long and 10ft wide, also requiring further width for the stabilising legs. The ground needs to be level and there must be no overhanging cables, trees or branches, drain covers, etc., in the area as these will impede the offloading. Also, the HIAB vehicles used cannot lift over a building of any kind. The reach of the cranes varies, so although lifting over a fence is possible this will shorten the distance the crane could reach the other side of the fence.
People often ask, ‘Do you need planning permission to place a container in your garden?’ Well, the answer to this seems to vary depending on your local council. If you are in a conservation area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, then you may well need it even though containers are temporary structures. So it is always best to check with your local council before you go ahead with an order. They may also stipulate the colour you are allowed to have. The use of the container can also determine whether planning permission is required, such as whether it is just for storage or as an office, etc.
Containers are not the prettiest storage solutions, particularly from your neighbour’s point of view perhaps. However, it is possible to disguise a container to an extent with camouflaging paintwork, modifications to blend it into the surroundings or perhaps by cladding it externally with timber. These options can be carried out by our fabricators in the depot or by yourselves on site. Also siting the container next to a fence or behind a shed can discreetly hide it and help it blend into the surroundings.
So, what is so good about a container? Well, they are extremely versatile, being able to store lots of items in one place, readily available for use at home. You could use one as a gym, office, workshop, etc. They are extremely durable and water resistant and will last a good few years, far more than a shed or outbuilding, and they are very reasonably priced.
So if you are looking to expand your storage areas at home or at work, look no further. We are a family-run business with a wealth of experience and knowledge about containers and can give you advice on the size of container you might need, along with prices to purchase and for hire too, at very reasonable prices. GET A QUOTE or telephone us on 0800 121 7388.
We look forward to hearing from you for a quote and any questions you have about containers.
