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The Right to Build Task Force has published a note for anyone working as a councillor or planning to stand for election, to support their understanding of custom and self build.
Read or download the PDF note
The following is a plain text version of the PDF note, with a bit more detail.
ADVICE FOR NEW & EXISTING MEMBERS
Achieving greater housing diversity with custom & self build homes
Recently there has been crossparty political support for 300,000 homes to be built annually. Rather than simply meeting demand with identikit estates, surveys show that 1 in 3 people would like to build their own homes. Therefore, the aspirational share of the custom and self build market could be 100,000 per year, yet self build delivers just 13,000 per year.
Owner-commissioned homes diversify the local market, offering more people more choice in their home, to reflect what they want and need. This can improve sales and therefore build-out rates. With custom build, homes can be on larger sites and include a range of sizes and routes to ownership. This simplifies the process for buyers as outline planning approval, services, and infrastructure, like roads, are arranged in advance of plot sales.
Local plans can support activity, and planning tools, like plot passports, can help shape the outcomes.
BENEFITS OF CUSTOM & SELF BUILD
Custom and self build can fit into a wide range of local plan ambitions, as it diversifies housing and creates dynamic communities with an emphasis on placemaking.
Did you know:
- 50% of custom and self-builders already install sustainable heating solutions, such as heat pumps or solar power.
- Design codes & plot passports can help planners retain controls on appearance.
- SME builders provide construction skills, which is good for the local economy and local training opportunities.
- 50% of custom and self-builders already use Modern Methods of Construction, including many offsite systems, such as timber-frame, structural insulated panels (SIPs) and cross laminated timber (CLT).
BARRIERS TO CUSTOM & SELF BUILD
- Limited awareness – both within planning and
industry, but also from the public - Access to land
- Navigating the planning process
- Securing finance
SUPPORTING GROWTH
Elected members, especially newly elected ones, have a unique role to play in supporting housing diversification and it is helpful to understand the context that frames activity.
All local authorities in England have a statutory duty to measure demand for self and custom build by holding a self build register, monitoring uptake and permissioning enough self and custom build plots to reflect this demand. This is known as the Right to Build legislation.
Each authority needs to deliver a diverse range of housing, have an understanding of self and custom build models of delivery, and also the policy and best practice that can promote and deliver it.
WHAT CAN MEMBERS AND OFFICERS DO?
- All candidates standing for election who believe housing delivery is important should support The Right to Build legislation.
- Consider becoming an advocate for custom and self build as it supports housing diversity.
The delivery of housing is complex, and making provision for homes for all is not straightforward. However, improving choice, accessibility, and opportunity for local communities is key for local authority elected members.
Self and custom build housing provides a real prospect of delivering on all these aspirations through local planning policy, local plan allocations and neighbourhood plan policy and allocations.
Local grass roots support from locally elected members is key to achieving innovative housing schemes which work with community support. Local authorities with Elected member champions who support custom build homes can achieve more for their communities and can work together with officers to deliver well planned quality homes that communities want to embrace and support.
REMEMBER:
The Right to Build Task Force offers comprehensive training (online workshops and masterclasses) together with written guidance and advice for Council Officers and elected members, these resources are designed to help induct new members helping them understand the self and custom build sector. These resources are all free.
Our mission is to help Local Planning Authorities deliver of the Right to Build and maximise the opportunity for the growth of self and custom build homes in England.