I Ve Lived Here For 30 Years Welsh Container Dweller Faces Eviction Wales

Inside, though, it’s excellent. The structure turns out to be four shipping containers cleverly connected to create a warm, if eccentric, home for 65-year-old Stephen Gibbons, complete with a wood-burning stove, well-used sofas and a polished dining table, as well as a collection of stuffed birds – and fake grass for carpet. But if the local authority, Newport Borough Council, has its way, Gibbons, who has lived here for 30 years and partly raised four children in this unusual place, will have to leave the structure because it did not have planning permission. for the residence. . Exterior view of the house Gibbons built 30 years ago. Photo: Francesca Jones/The Guardian “It’s terrible what they’re trying to do,” Gibbons said. “It feels very vindictive of the council. I have lived here quietly for 30 years, without harming anyone. I didn’t try to hide – there’s a chimney, washing on the line and you can see me on Google Earth. But they’re trying to figure out that I’ve made it secretly.” Gibbons points out that creating spaces out of shipping containers is all the rage. “They have them all over the harbor in Bristol [Cargo on Wapping Wharf – a trendy base for restaurants and shops]. They catch up.” He says he may try to keep fighting the decision and maybe even try to put his house on wheels to get around the planning rules. “I think it would be very simple,” he said. “It can come to that.” Gibbons, who worked for years in recycling, said he decided to create his unusual home in 1992 after a family break-up. “It seemed like the best option.” One of the living rooms. Photo: Francesca Jones/The Guardian Its location is superb, a few miles south of Newport city center on the Gwent Levels, a low land near the Severn estuary, home to otters, water voles and birds, which the Romans drained to create a breadbasket for their army before from a spur in the mountains of Wales. Although Gibbons insists he didn’t try to hide his home from designers, it’s hard to spot the place. It is behind a drainage ditch with a fence in front and access to the yard where his house is located is through another structure that houses two vintage tractors. Gibbons’ space is Tardis-like, much larger than it appears from the outside, a series of living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen. He has carefully insulated it, making it warm in winter and cool in summer. It has electricity and a cesspool. The world seems far away, perhaps because there are no windows. “You can escape the rat race here.” At least until the official call comes. In January 2021, Gibbons was served with a notice ordering him to stop using the shipping containers as his home. Newport council also claimed he carried out car repairs at the site, which he denies, insisting he was just repairing his vintage tractors. He appealed the notice to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), claiming the residence was immune from enforcement action because of the length of time it had been in place. Gibbons rejects council claims he built his home in secret. Photo: Francesca Jones/The Guardian The PEDW found in favor of the board and commented that “these affirmative acts of deception and deliberate concealment should deprive the applicant of immunity.” Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The claim that he secretly built his house is particularly frightening. Gibbons considers himself a good citizen who tries to help his neighbors, keeping fly-tipping litter off the shared private drive and recently helping capture an escaped bull. Most neighbors have made it clear they supported him on the council. He also points out that he has worked closely with the council in the past when he worked as a recycler and was visited by officers over the years, leading him to believe his home was legitimate. “I’m not hiding away,” he said. Professor James Clarke, cabinet member for strategic planning, housing and regulation at Newport Council, said he was pleased that PEDW agreed with the council’s assessment that the structure was erected without permission and deliberately hidden to circumvent regulations. “Planning regulations are in place for good reasons,” he said. “They are trying to protect us all from inappropriate development and this decision shows that deliberate acts of deception and misrepresentation will be exposed.” Gibbons is hoping for some relief. “Of course I’m proud of my house – it took me a long time to get it like this,” he said. “What’s the point of destroying it now?” Gibbons outside the residence. Photo: Francesca Jones/The Guardian

title: " I Ve Lived Here For 30 Years Welsh Container Dweller Faces Eviction Wales Klmat" ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-29” author: “Virginia Kuzma”

Inside, though, it’s excellent. The structure turns out to be four shipping containers cleverly connected to create a warm, if eccentric, home for 65-year-old Stephen Gibbons, complete with a wood-burning stove, well-used sofas and a polished dining table, as well as a collection of stuffed birds – and fake grass for carpet. But if the local authority, Newport Borough Council, has its way, Gibbons, who has lived here for 30 years and partly raised four children in this unusual place, will have to leave the structure because it did not have planning permission. for the residence. . Exterior view of the house Gibbons built 30 years ago. Photo: Francesca Jones/The Guardian “It’s terrible what they’re trying to do,” Gibbons said. “It feels very vindictive of the council. I have lived here quietly for 30 years, without harming anyone. I didn’t try to hide – there’s a chimney, washing on the line and you can see me on Google Earth. But they’re trying to figure out that I’ve made it secretly.” Gibbons points out that creating spaces out of shipping containers is all the rage. “They have them all over the harbor in Bristol [Cargo on Wapping Wharf – a trendy base for restaurants and shops]. They catch up.” He says he may try to keep fighting the decision and maybe even try to put his house on wheels to get around the planning rules. “I think it would be very simple,” he said. “It can come to that.” Gibbons, who worked for years in recycling, said he decided to create his unusual home in 1992 after a family break-up. “It seemed like the best option.” One of the living rooms. Photo: Francesca Jones/The Guardian Its location is superb, a few miles south of Newport city center on the Gwent Levels, a low land near the Severn estuary, home to otters, water voles and birds, which the Romans drained to create a breadbasket for their army before from a spur in the mountains of Wales. Although Gibbons insists he didn’t try to hide his home from designers, it’s hard to spot the place. It is behind a drainage ditch with a fence in front and access to the yard where his house is located is through another structure that houses two vintage tractors. Gibbons’ space is Tardis-like, much larger than it appears from the outside, a series of living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen. He has carefully insulated it, making it warm in winter and cool in summer. It has electricity and a cesspool. The world seems far away, perhaps because there are no windows. “You can escape the rat race here.” At least until the official call comes. In January 2021, Gibbons was served with a notice ordering him to stop using the shipping containers as his home. Newport council also claimed he carried out car repairs at the site, which he denies, insisting he was just repairing his vintage tractors. He appealed the notice to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), claiming the residence was immune from enforcement action because of the length of time it had been in place. Gibbons rejects council claims he built his home in secret. Photo: Francesca Jones/The Guardian The PEDW found in favor of the board and commented that “these affirmative acts of deception and deliberate concealment should deprive the applicant of immunity.” Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The claim that he secretly built his house is particularly frightening. Gibbons considers himself a good citizen who tries to help his neighbors, keeping fly-tipping litter off the shared private drive and recently helping capture an escaped bull. Most neighbors have made it clear they supported him on the council. He also points out that he has worked closely with the council in the past when he worked as a recycler and was visited by officers over the years, leading him to believe his home was legitimate. “I’m not hiding away,” he said. Professor James Clarke, cabinet member for strategic planning, housing and regulation at Newport Council, said he was pleased that PEDW agreed with the council’s assessment that the structure was erected without permission and deliberately hidden to circumvent regulations. “Planning regulations are in place for good reasons,” he said. “They are trying to protect us all from inappropriate development and this decision shows that deliberate acts of deception and misrepresentation will be exposed.” Gibbons is hoping for some relief. “Of course I’m proud of my house – it took me a long time to get it like this,” he said. “What’s the point of destroying it now?” Gibbons outside the residence. Photo: Francesca Jones/The Guardian