New Scheme to Support Self-Builders

Eleven regions across England will be part of a new government scheme to provide support for self-builders. The aim of this investment is to encourage more potential self-builders to look closely at the idea of building their own property. It is hoped that this will provide a further boost for the housing market and enable more people to own their dream property.

The Right to Build

The scheme was launched recently by Brandon Lewis, the Housing Minister. He announced that 11 local councils will share a total pot of £550,000 to help them set up this scheme in their area. They will then be able to provide assistance to local people who are looking to create the perfect home for themselves.

The councils that are part of this initial Right to Build rollout will establish a register of those who are looking to build a home. They will then identify potential sites that are suitable for property construction and offer them to self-builders on the register. Anyone who wishes to build can put their name on the local list.

Once they have a site in place, all the existing planning rules still apply. This means that even though they have gone through a council scheme and chosen one of the sites they’ve identified, builders will still need to apply for planning permission before commencing any work.

The Right to Build scheme should give more people the chance to build their own home. In the past, it’s often been an area that’s reserved for those with large budgets and grand ambitions. However, now even those who want to build a perfect three-bedroom family home, with the right number of bathrooms, family areas and a steel fabrication balcony, can live the dream.

Where Are the Pilot Areas?

Initially this scheme will just run in the 11 areas. This will be a test to see how much potential the scheme has and to assess the possibilities of rolling it out further. The aim is to increase the size of the self-build market and encourage more people to look at the opportunities available. The government will make a decision on extending the scheme later in the year.

The 11 pilot regions are: Cherwell District Council, Teignbridge District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Shropshire Council, West Lindsey District Council, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks Authorities, Sheffield City Council, Pendle Borough Council, Stoke on Trent City Council and South Norfolk District Council.

Why Do People Build Their Own Home?

For some people the idea of actually building their own house can be a daunting prospect. However, for others it is the chance to create something truly special. A self-build property can often be achieved for less than a comparable house would cost on the open market. Additionally, you get exactly what you want. For example, you could construct the home from traditional bricks, steel fabrication or timber.

Each individual council is using the finances and introducing the scheme in different ways. They have all identified particu