Earthbag building + councils

Hi All

Has anyone here ever tried to get an earth bag house through council? It looks like a great way to build. How many people just go ahead and build without approval?

Cheers

Monte

 

Monte,

One way to get is past council is to show it is equivalent to other building systems they may be familiar with.

Calling it "polypropylene assisted rammed earth" or "polypropylene assisted super-adobe" may help. If the roof is supported by post and beam, then they are only looking at "polypropylene assisted rammed earth walling system".

Giving them what they want and using their language really helps.

Good luck!

C

 

We are building using earthship construction. We found the Council very agreeable by meeting with them while we were planning the house. By doing this we had answered all their questions, and they ours, by the time we submitted the application. Our application went through in the minimum time. We also supplied them with as much information as we could from the internet. In fact because we took this friendly approach we have found them very helpful ever since.

 

wow, hope you are blogging your progress.

 

I read the blog where that couple built an earthship. It seemed a bloody hard way to get a bit of shelter!

 

This is the site where I read the blog

https://www.earthpower1.com/EarthshipIndex.html

 

You're right it sure doesn't look easy, however the concept of building a house using largely free waste from modern society is appealing. If you were living onsite in a caravan and could pound a few tyres every day then it wouldn't take that long.