TESCO TO SELL DIY FLATPACK HOMES

SUPERMARKET GIANT TESCO IS WELL KNOWN FOR SELLING EVERYTHING A SHOPPER COULD NEED, WANT OR DESIRE, AND NOW THAT INCLUDES PROPERTY. THE COMPANY, BETTER KNOWN FOR OFFERING GROCERIES, WINE, CLOTHES AND ELECTRONICS, HAS LAUNCHED A RANGE OF LARGE, SELF-ASSEMBLY LOG CABINS. SHOPPERS CAN PICK UP A FINNLIFE STRUCTURE COMPLETE WITH FIVE ROOMS AND A 'HANDY UPSTAIRS STORAGE AREA' FOR £9,999, EARNING CUSTOMERS A STAGGERING 19,998 CLUBCARD POINTS. THE HELSINKI MODEL EVEN HAS A DECKING AREA WHERE HOMEOWNERS CAN SIT AND ENJOY THE DAY. IT COMES COMPLETE WITH DOUBLE-GLAZING AND CAN BE UPGRADED TO INCLUDE A GUTTERING KIT, LAMINATE FLOORING AND EVEN UNDERFLOOR HEATING. MANUFACTURED FROM HIGH-GRADE SCANDINAVIAN WHITEWOOD, IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM TESCO'S WEBSITE AS IT IS TOO BULKY TO PICK UP INSTORE. SHOPPERS HAVE TO PAY A £5 DELIVERY CHARGE. THEN THERE'S THE SMALL MATTER OF SELF-ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDES PLANS AND STEP-BY-STEP BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS BUT IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN AN IKEA WARDROBE. PROSPECTIVE OWNERS ARE ALSO WARNED THAT THEY MAY NEED PLANNING PERMISSION AND BUILDING APPROVAL BEFORE PUTTING UP THEIR NEW BUILDING. THE LOG CABIN IS CONSTRUCTED USING 44mm THICK TONGUE AND GROOVE BOARDS WHICH SLOT TOGETHER AND EVENTUALLY MEASURE 32ft BY 16ft. IT HAS EIGHT WINDOWS, FRENCH DOORS AND A FELT SHINGLE ROOF. DESPITE OFFERING SUCH A SPACIOUS LOG CABIN, TESCO CLAIMS THE PROPERTY IS NOT ACTUALLY INTENDED FOR HABITATION AND WOULD SIMPLY PROVIDE EXTRA SPACE. A TESCO SPOKESMAN SAID: 'CUSTOMERS LIFESTYLES MEAN DEMAND FOR EXTRA SPACE AT HOME JUST KEEPS GROWING. AT £9,999, WE DON'T EXPECT OUR TESCO DIRECT LOG CABIN TO BE AN IMPULSE PURCHASE BUT IT IS CERTAINLY LESS HASSLE AND LESS COSTLY THAN MOVING HOUSE OR BUILDING AN EXTENSION.'