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An experimental house that can raise itself on stilts in the event of flooding could be built in the UK.
The Larkfleet Group of Companies has applied for planning permission to build the concept house near Spalding, Lincolnshire. The building can be lifted 1.5 metres off the ground using mechanical jacks.
The developer says the house is also modular, meaning it can be easily disassembled, moved and then quickly rebuilt in another location.
Larkfleet’s CEO Karl Hick said: “The elevating house effectively eliminates the risk of flood damage to homes so that more land across the country can be approved for future home building.
“This will help to tackle the ‘housing crisis’ that is being caused by the demand for new housing far exceeding the supply.”
The elevation system will use early warnings from organisations such as the Environment Agency to lift the house ahead of expected floods.
The jacks use a central motor, gear box and drive shafts to lift the house to the maximum height in less than five minutes. Once raised, solar panels on the roof and a battery would provide the house with electricity, Larkfleet says, while water and sewage would remain connected to the ground via flexible hoses.
The design is patent pending for now but Larkfleet says it hopes to use the trial to test the jack system before extending the concept to other parts of the UK.
