News

Can't afford to buy your own home? Social workers and other key public sector staff won't have that problem in future years if a consortium's plans for affordable housing take off.

The Urban Settings consortium is developing a prototype of "high-quality" metal freight containers that can be converted into homes. They can be stacked up to 16 storeys high and situated on almost any vacant land. It estimates that a single, fully fitted and heated 300sq ft container will cost £28,000, with a double costing £40,000. It says they could be rented out to public sector staff on low wages for between £70 and £110 a week.

The organisation says the containers could be made on existing production lines in China or Malaysia.