New support for aspiring ‘self-builders’

The government has announced new support for people looking to build their own home, in the form of new registers to help them find plots.

Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis announced the new plans that will require councils to keep a register of aspiring self and custom house builders when planning for future housing and land use.

The move comes as part of the government’s push to provide more homes and hopes to ‘unlock the potential’ of the custom build industry and help it expand to meet future housing needs. Local authorities will be required to ensure they have sufficient plots ready to match the local demand on their register.

Lewis said: “Many other countries have a track record of delivering large numbers of local homes through self-build and we’re determined to ensure self and custom housebuilding grows significantly.

“The new registers are a fantastic example of our commitment to double the number of custom and self build homes by 2020 – so anyone who wishes to design their dream house can do so.

“This government is committed to increasing housing supply and helping more people achieve their aspiration of home ownership – whether that’s buying on the open market through schemes like Help to Buy, or by building or commissioning their own home.”