DIY Caravan Makeover: £10K Renovation Now Faces Demolition After Becoming Too Large to Move

A keen DIY lover who transformed a caravan into a multi-level house might face demolition after being instructed to take it down, only to discover that it was too large to be relocated.

David Coe invested a year and £10,000 transforming the modest dwelling with expansions such as a staircase leading up to a second-level bedroom and adding a wood-burning stove.

He says he has received interest from Channel 4 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, which delves into distinctive compact housing developments, is what we’re talking about.

However, the labor of affection, parked in a parking bay, faces demolition as he has been given 28 days to remove this “health and safety” risk that has become too cumbersome to tow away.

'It's distressing to look at it just sitting there, but I lack the means to relocate it. I am left with no options,' stated Mr Coe, who initially wished to transfer it to the coast someday so he could appreciate magnificent vistas.

The individual, who is 67 years old, purchased the 14-foot caravan in 2022 and positioned it outside his flat within a housing association complex in Norwich, Norfolk.

He mentioned that he has 'always been highly inventive' and had earlier taken on the renovation of a hotel. The project with the caravan served as a welcome distraction from his serious health problems, which left him reliant on disability support.

As the building expanded, he incorporated additional storage and seating spaces on the lower level, installed new windows along with a skylight, and also created an outdoor garden complete with seating areas.

The rapidly growing tourist spot witnessed 'hundreds' of visitors enquiring about it.

“I simply had to leave the apartment and connect with other individuals,” stated Mr Coe.

‘It was meant to be a place to sit and have a cup of tea and chat with passers-by. But it became something to focus on and I started working on it every single day.

‘It became more than a hobby for me. It wasn’t a conscious decision but the caravan grew and grew. It cost me a fortune but I didn’t mind. I became known locally as the caravan man.

‘I met hundreds of people who wanted to see what I was doing and take selfies with me. It was a lovely distraction from everything else.’

Problems began after an unrelated legal battle with Anchor, the housing association in charge of his accommodation block, leading to him being evicted last year.

Mr Coe, who formerly worked in food service, had raised concerns regarding the hygiene and administration of the premises and was charged with 'unacceptable conduct' toward employees by the firm — an allegation he refutes.

The eviction forced him to leave behind the caravan and halted any additional efforts to strengthen the roof and expand the structure.

Mr Coe continues to reside in the vicinity and pays the £25 monthly charge for the parking spot. He frequently visits the caravan to ensure it remains safe and does not pose a hazard to others.

However, he has now gotten a removal notification from National Parking Enforcement Ltd., stating that the caravan "has been marked and reported to us as abandoned and/or... unauthorized to park in this area and will be removed within 28 days after issuing this notice" prior to being “disposed of.”

Heartbroken" Mr. Coe stated, "I have exhausted all possibilities using my restricted resources to ensure the caravan remains neat.

'I skipped meals for several months just to afford the storage space.'

A representative from NPE mentioned that the landowner asked for the removal of the caravan since it posed a risk to health and safety.

Anchor were contacted for a comment.

Mr Coe was previously featured in the headlines when he experienced a heart attack while returning home from a job center in 2018.

He earned the nickname 'the real-life Daniel Blake' following the release of the acclaimed Ken Loach film, which tells the story of a joiner declared fit for work by officials even though he had suffered a heart attack.