Building on an unhabited Island

[coco villa]

Can you build on an unhabited Island whithout the permission from the owner, if not how would you go about getting permission to build on an unhabited island thank you for your help and advice.

[Buenchico]

If the uninhabited island is within the UK (e.g. in the middle of the Thames), you'd need permission from the legal owner of the land together with planning permission from the local authority. In practice, you'd almost certainly be denied permission by the planning authorities.

If the island is outside of the UK, you'd need permission from the government which claimed the island as part of its territory (and also from the land owner, if this wasn't the relevant government). Government's tend to disapprove of the 'invasion' of their territory. For instance, a group of scrap metal merchants raising a flag on the uninhabited island of South Georgia was enough to trigger the Falklands War!

Governments won't normally give approval for anyone to build on their uninhabited islands. (Apart from the political implications, many small islands are unique nature habitats, which should be left undisturbed by man). Sometimes they'll approve the construction of temporary buildings for scientific research teams. Alternatively, they might be tempted to take the money from a billionaire who offered them a vast amount to have the island made available for his/her exclusive use. However, the chances of you or me being allowed to build on such an island are effectively nil.

If you're determined to find some isolation, you could try finding an uninhabited man-made installation, in international waters and declaring it to be an independent state:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_S ealand

Chris

[warpig3]

Excellent link Chris, very interesting.

[nic3c]

Chris is the fountain of all knowledge...

[coco villa]

Thanks for the reply i was thinking along the terms on a small southern island in the indian ocean in the Andaman Islands.

[warpig3]

If you make it a Principality can I be the UK Ambassador, pleezzeee?

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your response.

If you want to start building on one of the uninhabited islets, in the Andamans, you'll have to get permission from the Indian government. If you actually want to live in your building, you'll also need to seek an immigrant visa from them.

Chris

[coco villa]

Yes i would be living there permenantly, i was thinking of building a villa there, i am designing it right now in a C.A.D programme.

[coco villa]

Could you please tell me if possible who i should get in contact about this, is there any indian government websites that i can go to about it thanks for your help.

[Buenchico]

I suggest an initial e-mail to the Director of Information, Publicity & Tourism for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Smti. S K P Sodhi, at this address:
[email protected]

That information is taken from this web site, where you might find other relevant information:
http://www.and.nic.in/

Chris

[coco villa]

Thank you.

[Jimmyjazz]

Try reading 'Land of the naked people: encounters with stone age people' by Madhusree Mukerjee. It's a fascinating but sad story of the tribes of these islands. Make sure you don't try to inhabit North Sentinel Island!!

To be honest, I very much doubt whether the Indian governement will be that accommodating, but would be very interesting to hear how you get on.

[KARL]

I too would be curious to hear what befalls your application if you make it. If you don't soon get turned down permanently, then I think the next likeliest thing is that I will be dead of old age before the matter is settled one way or the other. Indian bureaucracy is legendary - but I can well understand why the possibility tempts you.