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The Task Force is leading a study visit to The Netherlands to share examples of completed custom and self build schemes and the communities that they have created.
Each site will be introduced by Hans Sparreboom, founder of Netherlands based custom build enabler Steenvlinder, which is sponsoring the trip along with BuildStore.
Early bird tickets cost £99 (or £75 discounted rate*) until the end of November, and the trip is ideal for a range of housing and planning professionals. Seeing sites first hand can help normalise the route, and remove some of the misconceptions about the finished results.
BOOK ON EVENTBRITE
This trip builds on previous visits to Europe, taking in a range sites in Amsterdam and The Hague that showcase owner-commissioned homes, delivered through a variety of routes and policy mechanisms. These include rural and urban sites, shell apartments, retrofit schemes, terraced homes and detached plots, including examples of self build, custom build and community-led schemes, such as cohousing.
The trip has been curated by the Task Force and Steenvlinder - using its invaluable local knowledge - and will including salient takeaway points, learnings and challenges in practice - that have framed the delivery of these homes.
This will support understanding of how custom and self build can delivered, how it was received locally and the policy and practice that facilitated the delivery of each site.
You will discover first-hand how custom and self build is creating dynamic communities with placemaking at their heart in the Netherlands. While the models vary, the results are clear to see, that housing markets have the room to deliver a different approach to housing, that can include communities, more affordable homes and the choice that reflects residents’ lives.
Often these create additional homes that might not otherwise have come forward – an important consideration for the UK with the cost of living crisis that could see a reduction in mainstream house builders as they respond to market pressures.
But custom and self build needs the right environment and policy levers to flourish, and these examples will illustrate some of the ways in which this can happen. It will also consider the ways in which sites are promoted, both within a local government context during planning and to the wider public upon sale.
Did you know that Graven Hill originated with a member of Cherwell District Council getting inspired on a similar study trip to Europe?
Testimonial from Simon Harrison, Head of Design at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation:
“Our visit to The Netherlands, visiting completed schemes and hearing first hand from Jacqueline Tellinga, inspired our emerging plans for Custom and Self Build at Ebbsfleet”
For an overview of the 2018 trip, visit NaCSBA.
FAQs
Discounts
Discounted tickets are available for local authorities, public sector employees, community housing group reps and NaCSBA members.
Why attend?
- Learn from others’ hands-on experiences
- See the best practice that supports the delivery of Custom & Self Build, creating a new housing market
- Understand the benefits and shortcomings of different delivery routes
- Gain practical knowledge that will pay dividends in delivering housing
Who should attend?
- Local politicians and elected members
- Local authority housing, planning, regeneration, development and estates officers
- Mortgage lenders and building societies
- Developers, housebuilders and housing associations
- Established community housing groups
- Landowners
- Housing and Planning consultants and advisors
How much is it?
Ticket prices are £99/£75 until the end of November. This includes insurance while on the trip (you will also need your own travel insurance), coach travel, a set-menu evening meal (excluding drinks). Snacks, refreshments, lunches and other costs are the responsibility of each individual. We will arrange stops for people to purchase sandwiches etc for lunches on the coach as we travel between sites.
What about flights and hotels?
Attendees must buy their own flights and accommodation. We will meet at Amsterdam Schipol at a set time (see Eventbrite) – and it is your responsibility to ensure your flight arrives in sufficient time to meet this time. We will shortly share a list of hotels in close proximity to the evening restaurant, with a range of price points. We recommend booking these on booking.com on a cancellable basis.
What do I need to bring?
There will be walking, stairs and time on your feet, so wear comfortable shoes. A shower proof jacket or umbrella may also come in handy. Other than that please take lots of photos of the sites (as opposed to the group!) and please do share these if you are happy to.
Can I cancel my ticket?
We need a commitment to run the trip, and once tickets are on sale we will not refund cancelled tickets until we are over the critical numbers that make the visit viable. After this point we will refund less 10% up to a month in advance, with no refunds in the final month.