Councils must do more to provide land for self-builders, housing secretary says
The government is to review the law covering the self-build sector in a bid to make it easier for people to build and commission their own homes.
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has also written to local councils to ensure they are implementing rules ensuring that they identify enough land to meet demand for self-build housing in their areas.
The government says there are currently around 15,000 self or custom-built homes constructed each year, an increase of 50% in the past two years, but the proportion of homes constructed via this route still falls well below that in many European countries.
The review announced by Jenrick will examine how effectively existing obligations on councils support self and custom building, including whether they increase land available to support these homes.
The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 created a right to build”, under which planning authorities must keep a register of individuals and groups who wish to self or custom build in their local area and bear this in mind when undertaking planning, housing, disposal of land and regeneration functions.
Councils must also grant permissions to enough suitable serviced plots to reflect the demand within three years.
Jenrick said: “I have launched a review to ensure councils provide enough land and take proper consideration for these homes when making planning decisions in their area. This will help more people get a foot on the housing ladder and support our building industry as we deliver the homes that this country needs.”
Andrew Baddeley-Chappell, CEO of the National Custom and Self Build Association praised Jenrick’s “excellent” announcement. “England has the lowest known rate of self-commissioned homes in the developed world,” he said.
“Our new homes market is crying out for the greener and higher quality build that goes hand in hand with more consumer choice.”
The new came as the government-funded Right to Build Task Force launched a suite of planning guidance designed to support the delivery of custom and self-build homes. The Task Force said the guidance aims to ensure consistent good practice in the delivery of custom and self-build homes in the wake of the Right to Build legislation, filling in gaps in planning policy and guidance.
The first phase of the new guidance has been published for consultation already, with the aim of having the full suite of 16 guidance notes finalised and published by December 31.
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