Boost for Families Building their Own Homes

A review to make it easier for people building their own homes has been announced by UK Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick.

For many people, building a home can play an important part in helping them get their feet on to the property ladder. Around 15,000 of these homes are built every year, but there is still more to be done to support the self- and custom-built industry, last estimated to be worth around £4.5 billion to the UK economy.

Local councils are currently required to keep a register of those who want to build in their local area, and by 30^th October every year they have granted planning permission to enough suitable plots to match demand on their registers.

However, a new review announced last week by Robert Jenrick will review these arrangements and decide whether they increase land available to support these homes. To ensure transparency and help understand how councils are meeting the needs of their communities, Mr Jenrick has announced that the data councils collect on self- and custom-build in their areas will now be published annually.

The Housing Secretary has also written to councils to ensure that they consider demand for these homes when providing land for building and making planning decisions in their area.

Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “We are backing people who want to design and build their own home and today 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 & Self Build Association (NaCSBA), said: “England has the lowest known rate of self-commissioned homes in the developed world. Our new homes market is crying out for the greener and higher quality build that goes hand-in-hand with more consumer choice. Housing diversification is key to the government’s housing strategy.

“This excellent announcement by the government should help many more people achieve the dream of living in better and more beautiful homes.”

This follows on from the recent Planning for the Future white paper, published in August, which set out ambitious reforms to modernise the planning system, bringing a new focus on high-quality design and sustainability. The white paper includes proposals to explore how publicly owned land disposal can support SMEs and the self-build sector.

Ministers from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will also hold a roundtable with the self- and custo- build sector as well as councils as part of the review.

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