There’s elevated homes and then there’s this, a solar and battery powered elevating house.
UK developer Larkfleet Homes has submitted plans to South Holland District Council for a rather unique house that can lift itself above flood waters; to a height 1.5 metres above ground.
The house will sit on a steel ring beam instead of conventional foundations. 6 mechanical jacks, powered by a central motor, gear box and drive shafts should be able to lift the 65 tonne house to the full 1.5 metre height above ground in less than five minutes.
The rooftop solar panels and home battery system will provide some continuing electricity supply during a flood event. As for water and sewage, those services would operate via flexible hoses.
Larkfleet says it doesn’t envision residents staying in the premises during a flood, but would seek refuge elsewhere after raising the house.
Work on constructing the three-bedroom house could begin early next year, but testing of long-term maintenance and operation of the jacking system will occur for up to five years.
The company says the dwelling would be based on a modular steel-frame design so it can be disassembled and reassembled at another site on conventional foundations.
“If tests are successful, the house could provide a model that would enable housebuilding on thousands of sites across the UK which at present cannot be developed because of the risk of flooding,” states Larkfleet.
CEO of The Larkfleet Group of Companies, Karl Hick, says the concept could help tackle the UK’s housing challenges, brought on by new housing demand outstripping supply.
It will be interesting to see if planning permission for the elevating home gets off the ground (so to speak).
Flooding can be a particularly expensive exercise when these events are not covered by insurers. For example, in Australia, “actions of the sea” are not covered by most insurance companies – a worry in a world with rising sea levels and increased storm surges.
It’s certainly an interesting option, but elevating a home the usual way would no doubt be much cheaper and simpler – but it does create some accessibility issues.
Even if the company’s plans are knocked back by council, it won’t be for nought; the amount of coverage the company has received as a result of this ambitious project is probably as good as money in the bank. Larkfleet says it also has UK and international patents pending for the elevating house.
