Member Article

Floating Homes Are A Natural Progression & The UK Needs To Catch Up

BlueTech Water Solutions Explain How The Increase In Demand Of Floating Holiday Homes Will Affect The Residential Market

The increase in the number and popularity of floating properties available to rent or buy on leisure developments is the start of a wider trend which will eventually lead to residential floating properties becoming more mainstream in the UK, says Warwick-based Bluetech Waterfront Solutions.

Bluetech Waterfront Solutions (BWS) was set up in 2018, with the bulk of its business coming from owners of lakes, marinas, inland waterways, leisure sites and caravan parks as they respond to customer demand for a different kind of lifestyle. Eventually, however as the floating home concept become more established in the UK, BWS believes its sales will be split more evenly between residential and leisure developments.

Carl West, Co-Founder, says: “On the continent floating homes such as those being built in the IJburg neighbourhood in Amsterdam are highly desirable places to live. There’s a real sense of community there and the properties are going up in value fast, but we’re at least five to ten years behind in the UK. Here, floating homes are a natural progression from narrowboats and broad-beam boats, providing luxury accommodation on water”.

“What we are seeing now is leisure park owners recognising the potential to develop their lakes and marinas to include floating accommodation for use as a leisure, residential or commercial space. A modern marina is not just a car park for boats but a full-service hub for boaters and others who enjoy the water and its environ.”

For tourists, it makes for a really relaxing stay as floating homes always make the most of views of the water. And once people have stayed in a floating home for a holiday it’s less of a jump to thinking they could do it year-round too, especially when property prices are so expensive and development land is so scarce.“

Before co-founding BWS, Carl worked for the Canal and River Trust (formerly British Waterways), while co-founder Chris Smith has vast experience within the civil engineering construction, successfully managing the design/construction of more inland marinas than any other contractor in the UK.

The company offer all aspects of project support, from feasibility through to planning application, design and construction. The company also sells floating homes, via their trading partners Bluefield Houseboats and Inland & Coastal, who provide the house and base.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Raynard .