A builder from Hinckley is remodelling shipping containers to show how they could become homes and offices.

Joff Musson has bought three, 40ft-long cargo boxes from overseas which will be kitted out to demonstrate their potential.

One of the structures will be turned into a number of 'pods' for homeless people, another will become a garden office and the third rebuilt as a micro home.

The entrepreneur has clubbed together with a group of old school friends and colleagues who work in social housing to bring about the project.

“We are going to build them as showrooms to showcase what you can do with them," Joff said.

“It’s something I have dreamed of doing for quite a long while. You see pictures on social media of people doing it.”

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They have yet to secure a plot of land where they can put the containers, but they have been getting quotes for materials and they hope to do the renovation after work and on weekends.

Mr Musson's works as a contract manager at Matthews and Tannert Ltd, and the company is supporting the building of the homeless pods.

He said of the metal containers: "They can be configured in so many different ways they could be for single people or families of up to six or more and will be able to help the social landlord and council clients, of which Matthews and Tannert already have contracts with."

Shipping containers have been used to house homeless people in the past, with a scheme running in Bristol.

A shipping container kitted out for homeless people in Bristol

Other potential uses for the Hinckley containers include turning them into pop up bars or restaurants.

The entrepreneur, 30, said there are environmental benefits to repurposing the containers, which are sometimes stacked more than 10 high when they are used to transport goods.

“It saves the containers from going to be crushed. It’s something that’s been overlooked but in developing countries, it’s huge”, he said.

Mr Musson has worked for several years in social housing, fitting kitchens and bathrooms.

He and his team hope to have the three containers kitted out and available to view by early 2020, and if the idea proves popular they could take on and convert more of the containers to sell on.