Site accommodation unit and site bungalow: the guide for construction industry professionals
On a construction site in the United Kingdom, plan welfare facilities suited to the workforce, risks and site conditions: toilets, washing, drinking water, changing and rest areas as required by the applicable rules. Compare suitable modules, indicative 2026 prices and hire or purchase options. Check the framework for the site: CDM 2015 in Great Britain and CDM (Northern Ireland) 2016 in Northern Ireland.
Welfare obligations: what to provide on site
On a UK construction site, welfare facilities must be provided for the workforce, suited to the number of workers, the risks and the site conditions: toilets, washing, drinking water, changing and rest areas. The framework is CDM 2015 in Great Britain and CDM (Northern Ireland) 2016. What to plan for:
- Collective Changing Room — Provide changing and storage space for clothing and equipment suited to contamination risks and the workforce.
- Toilets — Provide accessible, maintained toilets with capacity suited to workforce and local conditions. Check separation or individual use under applicable rules.
- Washbasins — Provide water, soap and hygienic drying for hand washing. Hot water and additional facilities depend on the work and local requirements.
- Showers — Assess showers according to dirty work, hazardous substances and prevention measures. Check privacy, water supply and maintenance.
- Canteen — Provide a clean place for breaks and meals away from site hazards, suited to the workforce and weather.
- Drinking Water Point — Provide safe drinking water and replenishment where no reliable mains supply is available.
Have the welfare set-up checked by the person responsible for health and safety on the site before work starts, and adapt it when the workforce or the work changes.
The Four Basic Modules
Here is what our supplier partners most often offer, with price ranges for 2026. Prices vary according to interior equipment, insulation level, and rental duration.
Construction Site Office
Equipped module: desk, chair, heating, lighting, sockets, window. For the site manager, master craftsman, construction meetings. Surface area 7 to 15 m².
£110 – £299/month in rent, £2,259 – £9,450 to purchase
Collective Changing Room
Fitted with benches, metal lockers, heating and lighting, and sized to the number of workers on site.
£126 – £331/month in rent, £2,761 – £11,025 to purchase
Toilets / shower
WC, washbasin, shower depending on module. Water connection and drainage required. Some modules are autonomous (integrated tanks) for non-connected zones.
£141 – £378/month in rent, £3,263 – £14,175 to purchase
Canteen
Tables, chairs, a hob or microwave and a water point, for breaks and meals away from site hazards.
£131 – £347/month in rent, £3,012 – £12,600 to purchase
Site cabin or converted shipping container?
Historically, site accommodation was done in modular bungalows (light steel structure with metal cladding and insulated sandwich panels). In recent years, an alternative has emerged: the converted shipping container. Honest comparison:
| Criterion | Classic site cabin | Converted container |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase cost | £2,259 – £11,025 | £2,761 – £14,175 |
| Service life | 15 – 20 years | 25 – 40 years |
| Burglary resistance | Average (sheet metal) | Very high (Corten steel) |
| Resale Value | Low (30 % at 10 years) | High (60-70 % at 10 years) |
| Transport | Simple (flatbed truck) | Container carrier truck |
| Insulation | Integrated (sandwich panels) | To be done (£5,250 – £15,750) |
Summary verdict: the site cabin remains faster to deploy and cheaper upfront. The converted container is more durable, safer, and retains its value better — but it requires a higher initial investment and longer preparation work.
Our 5 practical tips for your site accommodation unit
- Anticipate connections. Water and electricity connections are often underestimated on construction sites. Ask the network operator early for a temporary supply and allow around £525 – £2,625 depending on the distance to the network.
- Size just right, then add 20%. Construction sites last longer and employ more people than expected. A locker room sized exactly to capacity quickly becomes uncomfortable as numbers grow. An extra module is cheaper than a demotivated employee.
- Opt for stackable modules. On a constrained urban construction site, stacking bungalows (changing rooms on ground floor, offices upstairs) saves a lot of space. External stairs should be included in the package.
- Secure against theft. Construction sites are regular targets for tool burglaries. A site cabin in Corten steel container with lock-box and motion-detecting lighting is well worth its extra cost.
- Check the insurance. Does your professional liability insurance cover damage to rented modules? If not, subscribe to additional insurance (£53 – £158/year per module).
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a site cabin and a construction site bungalow?+
"Site cabin" is the regulatory term that refers to all social facilities on a construction site (changing room, toilet, canteen, office). "Bungalow" refers to the building itself — that is, the module. A site cabin therefore consists of one or more bungalows. In common usage, both terms are often used interchangeably.
From when is a site cabin mandatory on a construction site?+
As soon as people work on the site, welfare facilities must be provided: toilets, washing, drinking water, changing and rest areas suited to the workforce, risks and site conditions. The framework is CDM 2015 in Great Britain and CDM (Northern Ireland) 2016; a site cabin is the usual way to provide them. Have the set-up checked by the site’s safety professional.
What budget should be planned for a construction site cabin?+
Compare buying and renting over the period you need the container. Include the purchase price or rent, delivery and collection, maintenance, insurance and financing. If you plan to resell it, use a cautious estimate: the resale value is not guaranteed. There is no number of months after which one option is always cheaper. Use quotes for your market to do the calculation. Indicative figures to confirm in the quote: £263 – £525, £525 – £2,625, £226 – £709.
How are sanitary modules connected?+
Check available services and module requirements: mains connection or suitable self-contained collection and emptying. Indicative references: plumber £315 – £840, emptying £84 – £158. Specify works, frequency and cost in quotations; these are not measured averages.
Are the site cabins insulated?+
Yes, almost all new or recent modules are insulated (mineral wool 50 to 80 mm, U = 0.5 to 0.7 W/m²K). Low-end used modules may have degraded insulation — check visually. Electric heating (convection heaters 1,000 to 2,000 W) is standard. For winter construction sites at high altitude, overdimensioning is recommended.
Can a shipping container be converted into a site cabin?+
Yes, it's actually very common. Converting a 20-foot container into a locker room or a 40-foot high cube into an office and dining area often offers better cost-quality than a new bungalow, especially for long-term construction sites. The conversion costs £8,400 – £21,000 depending on the level of equipment. Advantage: at the end of the project, you retain a resellable asset.
Site cabin purchased or rented: what calculation?+
Compare buying and renting over the period you need the container. Include the purchase price or rent, delivery and collection, maintenance, insurance and financing. If you plan to resell it, use a cautious estimate: the resale value is not guaranteed. There is no number of months after which one option is always cheaper. Use quotes for your market to do the calculation.
Who is responsible for maintenance during rental?+
The tenant for regular use (cleaning, minor repairs, consumables). The supplier for structural failures (waterproofing, degradation outside normal use, equipment failure). The boundary is specified in the contract — read carefully before signing.
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