Sam Griffiss, 35, sold his conventional house last year and moved onto a 1,200m² plot of flood-prone land by the River Severn, where he has created a unique off-grid home.
Using a boat he bought for just £500, a wooden cabin, a sauna, a pond, and other structures, Griffiss has built a unique riverside haven.
Now, he waits for the local council to decide whether his self-built project can officially be recognised as a residence, with a planning permission outcome set to determine the future of his unusual lifestyle.
Why he built the boat house
Griffiss explained that his move was both financial and personal. “Repayments on the house became unaffordable and it felt like I was working to live, so I decided to sell the house and go for it,” he said.
He bought the plot three years ago, using equity from his house, and initially placed a caravan there while he began building the house, which is in a flood zone.
“I’m an outdoorsman, love camping and being outside,” Griffiss added. “The wooden cabin has all my tools in and it’s made completely from wood, so it’s a temporary structure/agricultural building. The boat is on its trailer so it’s a moveable object. The only things the planning will try to get me on are building up the perimeters to protect from flooding and digging out the pond.”
His vision was simple: to create a sustainable, low-cost home that allowed him to live closer to nature while experimenting with alternative living.
Positive reaction from locals
Despite its unconventional nature, Griffiss says he has been encouraged by local support.
“I’ve received great feedback from locals – they often stop for a chat when walking past on the footpath. I’ve even built them a bench that faces the river, lol. I want this place to be welcoming to all,” he told us.
Griffiss’s riverside plot now includes a sauna, pond, and chicken coop, reflecting his desire to build a community-focused space, not just a personal home.
Residents have reportedly appreciated his efforts to create an engaging and friendly environment, highlighting how unusual projects can still positively connect with local communities.
Planning grey area puts riverside home under scrutiny
Griffiss’s off-grid setup sits in an unusual planning grey area, largely because he argues that none of the structures on the land are permanent.
The boat that forms his home remains on its trailer, while the wooden cabin is used to store tools and is constructed entirely from timber, which he says makes it a temporary or agricultural building. “The boat is on its trailer so it’s a moveable object,” he said, adding that the only elements he believes planners may question are “building up the perimeters to protect from flooding and digging out the pond.”
Under UK planning law, however, whether permission is required is not determined solely by whether a structure can be moved, but by whether it is moved in practice and how it is used. Temporary or mobile structures, including caravans, cabins and boats, can be classed as development if they remain in one place for long periods, are used as a main residence, or materially change the character of the land. Councils also consider factors such as flood mitigation works when assessing cases on riverside or floodplain sites.
The local authority has confirmed the plot is currently under investigation, leaving Griffiss waiting nervously for a decision that could determine whether his off-grid home is allowed to remain.
