A new survey has revealed growth in the self build sector despite discrepancies in the way councils support it…
According to a new survey by the National Custom & Self Build Association almost 40 per cent of England’s planning authorities have taken action to help residents looking to build their own property. Since 2012 the sector has seen activity treble, highlighting the popularity of this approach. As a result the government brought in a number of measures such as Right to Build in a bid to keep the sector moving.
The survey collated data from all 337 planning authorities across England, including national parks authorities. It found 39 per cent—around 130 authorities—had been supportive of self builds.
The greatest support was present from councils in the north of England, the south west, West Midlands, and parts of East Anglia. The least amount of action was seen in the capital.
The research showed a total of 69 authorities have created a register designed to measure the demand for self building in their local area. A total of 77 used their local plan to promote self building.
The survey also revealed Cherwell District Council in Oxfordshire has one of the largest self build programmes in the country. To date the local authority has invested £16m in the sector and 250 homes have been delivered as a result.
Mario Wolf, who was led the research, said: “This work suggests that many councils are keen to support the government’s ambition of doubling the level of private homebuilding in the UK to help address the growing need for more housing.
“If realised, it will help diversify our homebuilding industry, create local jobs and support smaller builders and thousands of suppliers.”
The association will collaborate with the Department for Communities and Local Government as well as the financial sector to discern new ways of supporting the self build sector in the future.
