Subject: Preparing Communities for Climate Change, Economic
Insecurity and AI-driven Job Disruption through Practical, Scalable
Solutions from Cabinz CIC
Hello,
As we face three of the greatest
challenges of our time—the accelerating consequences of climate
change, the transformation of work due to artificial intelligence
plus automation and increasing global economic and
political insecurity.
It is vital that we begin preparing
resilient, community-based solutions for stronger shelters now.
Cabinz CIC, an eleven-year-old
social enterprise based in Saltney, Flintshire, is developing
scalable, low-cost strategies to help communities adapt. We are in a
unique position today as we have secured access to thousands of
metres of clearance stock insulated metal panels (IMPs) for £8-£18
a metre.
These are from a Flintshire building
company, which alongside millions of high-quality, low cost screws
and fixings from Cabinz cics' own stock, enables us to deliver
practical solutions to DIY simple shelters affordably and at scale.
We would like to highlight key
initiatives we have worked on for several years:
We are working with local allotment
groups in Flintshire and Cheshire to create fire-resistant,
storm-resilient shelters using IMPs. Recent events, such as the
Chester Whipcord allotment fire, show how vulnerable current wood
structures are.
By supplying clearance stock
materials at a fraction of their usual cost, Cabinz CIC is working to
provide DIY kits for community groups, small businesses &
DIY'ers enabling them to build durable garden rooms, workshops, and
recreational facilities as well. These shelters will better withstand
storms, fires, and other climate-related risks. They may also be used
for civil defence (see point 5)
We are researching and encouraging
others to build shelters in these designs, though some may need
development and prototyping :
(of course they can build a
rectangular one from a
£100 build pack from Garden Room Guru
who have just offered a nice
alu frame garden room base)
1. Six
Foot Stretch Hexayurt
2. Larger version of a H4
Hexayurt
3. Arched shelters from wood /
scaffold tube / gas pipe hoop / frame like
this chicken coop one we supplied materials to.
4. Safe
T Home® cylindrical shelter of corrugated sheets based
on grain silo design
5. hexayurt walled shelter with a flat
roof
6. Dual Pitch roof shelter with 4m
height to roof.
7. Rectangular shelters using IMP
panels then with trellis made from wood battening angled to deflect
wind, forming a hexagonal overall shape
Garages across the UK are
overflowing, often preventing effective reuse and recycling. Our
proposal is for modular storage rooms, built using pallet racking and
covered with insulated panels, to be installed above passageways or
at the side of buildings. These structures could:
Free up garages for active use,
Support reuse initiatives by
providing secure storage,
Incorporate water-harvesting
systems,
Blend with local architecture
through finishes like brick veneer or wood cladding.
This design not only supports
sustainable living but also helps families and small businesses
manage limited space more effectively.
The BRMP is designed to reinforce
and insulate vulnerable buildings, sheds, greenhouses, and animal
shelters, making them more resistant to floods and high winds.
By leveraging our vast supply of
affordable fixings and reclaimed materials, communities can
cost-effectively strengthen small but vital structures—reducing
risks of damage and protecting food security through flood-resistant
raised beds.
These practical steps can form the
foundation of a larger national resilience effort, helping the UK to
prepare not only for extreme weather but also for the socioeconomic
shifts that automation and AI will bring. By equipping communities
with affordable resources and practical designs, we can support
cottage industries, reduce waste, and promote self-reliance and
self-employment.
By creating wider access to low cost
premises at scale, mental and physical health will be
improved.
4.DIGRS Project DIY
very low cost insulated room dividing / shelter Mk 1 panels to save
energy in the winter / reduce heat in summer
Cabinz are working with Vinay Gupta,
Inventor of the Hexayurt emergency
shelter to produce prototypes
of external shelters with IMP panels and internal room dividers
using the Hexayurt taping method with foil backed panels available
from Secondsandco.co.uk .
Cabinz Cic has previously produced prototypes of
insulated panels from wood battens and fabric joined together
with low cost tools and a variety of insulation (see link)
as part .
Panels can be used to make small
indoor shelters as well as room dividers. Trellis and green walls can
help insulate external walls. Panel offcuts can be used to make
animal shelters or security / storm shutters.
5.
Civic Protection and Emergency Community Shelters
We
are working on a national project to design and
produce internal and external storm and security shutters
made from Insulated Metal Panels (IMPs), with the
option to add solar panels for renewable energy
generation.
Small
garden-rooms built from insulated
metal panels (IMPs)
can
serve as above-ground refuges or safe rooms and used for
normal purposes. Because they are lighter and simpler than
traditional masonry, they can then be converted with external
protection layers (sandbags, soil, or concrete) to resist storm
winds debris.
We
have donated tools and medical equipment to Ukraine and researched
protective shutters
reusing materials. In a war zone, such rooms can provide safer
shelter than staying inside a brick house, where bricks may become
lethal shrapnel in a blast or missile strike.
Larger community shelters could
follow a similar principle using prefab kits to create
semi-underground or fully underground bunkers on public land. These
can be cheaper, flexible, and allow self-build for groups or
municipalities on a budget.
A relevant demonstration (on
protective layering of structures) can be seen here:
prefab
kit to self-build underground shelters on a budget
www.vikingshelters.com
Appendix: Alternatives to Garden Rooms and Modular
Buildings
If AI disrupts employment and incomes
collapse, garden rooms and modular buildings are one of the strongest
solutions — but not the only one. Alternatives include:
1. Tiny Homes / Modular Micro-Housing: Stand alone
micro-houses produced from timber, SIPs, or shipping containers.
2.
Community Land Trust Housing: Cooperative low-cost housing, replacing
rent with contributions in labour or produce.
3. Shipping
Container Conversions: Durable, portable, but requiring
insulation.
4. Earth Shelters / Natural Building: Cob, rammed
earth, or straw bale construction, labour-intensive but low cost.
5.
Community-Scale Shared Facilities: Dormitory-style living with shared
kitchens, workshops, and gardens.
Garden rooms and modular
buildings stand out because they combine affordability, speed of
deployment, resilience to weather, and flexibility of use.
Our Request
We ask for your support in:
Recognising these initiatives as part of local and
national planning for climate resilience, affordable
business premises and civil defence.
Helping us connect with councils, housing associations, and
community groups who could benefit.
Exploring partnerships to scale these solutions more widely.
With access to affordable, durable materials, Cabinz CIC can help
communities build resilience, support reuse, and prepare for the
future of work in a changing climate.
Thank you for considering these proposals. We would welcome the
opportunity to discuss how we can collaborate with government,
councils, and businesses to make these ideas a reality.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Ridley
Director,
Cabinz CIC
Saltney, Flintshire
cabinznet@gmail.com
Pack 220–240 plugs, screws, and washers.
1. PRINTABLE EMERGENCY HARDWARE KIT CHECKLIST (UK)
2. PRINTABLE PER-WINDOW CALCULATION SHEET
3. PRINTABLE SCREW-SPACING DIAGRAM
