Family could be forced to leave self-built houseboat

A petition has been started in support of a family who have spent the last two years converting a derelict barge into an innovative self-build home.

But their future on Ferro is under serious threat with a real possibility of the barge being removed from its moorings and the family being evicted.

Trevor Gray and Molly Petts claim that they were given permission to build their dream home, but Bristol City Council are adamant that the vessel should not be used for residential purposes as it only has a leisure licence.

Trevor has done most of the work himself on Ferro, which is now home to the couple and their two-year-old son, Toren.

Ferro is moored close to Wapping Wharf, with hundreds of passers-by able to watch the progress on the home over the last two years.

Ferro has been taking shape over the past two years – photo: Martin Booth

“When the nation is being told to stay at home, my family are being threatened to leave ours,” Trevor wrote on Instagram, where he has been documented the building of Ferro over the last couple of years.

Trevor claims that the Harbour Master “has concocted a series of contradictory tales and events to cover up the consent he had given in February 2019 to renovate our home”.

Bristol24/7 understands that new residential licences could not be issued for any vessel in the docks until the Harbour Review had concluded, with no works able to commence without the necessary consents and safety certificates in place.

A report to Bristol City Council’s audit committee on January 25 said that “in the context of poor recording” there is an estimate that harbour fees were not charged by £100,000 in 2019/20.

In the year to March 2020, the harbour estate made a loss of £43,000, with the report saying that “it is our opinion that the financial position would have been better if all the fees were charged and collected given the level of undercharging identified by the audit”.

Trevor added: “The council believes that we chose to ignore crucial advice and proceed at our own risk.

“When in fact we countlessly sought and followed the advice of the relevant authority and only proceeded with that reassurance.”

Trevor and Molly say that they have “made every attempt to now rectify the situation” but still do not know the full reasons for their possible eviction.

Trevor said: “The council simply appear to want to support a flimsy untrue version of events and evict a family from their home rather than come to a sensible and reasonable solution.

“Instead of threatening eviction and impoundment, at the very least everything could be put on hold until the applications they now ask for have been processed.

“And if the Harbour Review is such a concern then why not grant us a residential licence pending the outcome of the process.”

Ferro is moored in front of the flats on Museum Street – photo: Martin Booth

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “As well as the usual mooring and licensing agreements for residential boats in the harbour, building on the harbour comes with similar responsibilities and requirements expected of anyone doing so on land.

“Where someone wants to live in a boat or convert one to live in there are a set of permissions and regulations that need to be satisfied to ensure builds are legal, safe and appropriate.

“Specialist advice is on offer to those wanting to take on the responsibility of building a new home on the harbour but where any build proceeds without these legal requirements we have very little option other than to ask people to stop.

“Health and safety of all our harbour users is our first priority and we have reached out to the owner with regards to housing options and will remain in contact whilst this situation is resolved.”

Trevor Gray and Molly Petts hoped that Ferro would be their dream home – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read more: The cohousing projects that are reducing social isolation in Bristol