Following a Freedom of Information Request, NaCSBA found that as of 31 October 2017 over 33,000 people have signed up to the Right to Build registers in England, expressing their wise to create an owner commissioned home.
New research by the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) has found that, since 1st April 2016, over 33,000 people have signed up to Right to Build registers across England to secure a plot to design and build their dream home. This is over an 80% increase on this time last year, when 18,000 people signed up in the first year of the registers.
This means that local authorities across England must give permission for enough serviced building plots to meet this growing demand, under there responsibilities placed on them by the Right to Build legislation.
They have until 31st October 2020to consent 33,000 serviced plots, with around half of these to be consented by 31st October 2019.
During the second year since the Right To Build registers came into force, nearly 18,000 additional people signed up, many via NaCSBA’s Right to Build Portal. However of these and the initial 18,000 people, around 3,000 people were removed from the registers by local authorities. Reasons include people having found plots and councils applying local connection tests or introducing a fee to join or stay on the registers.
NaCSBA supports the fact that the majority of councils are taking the management of their registers so seriously, as they provide one of two important sources of demand and need to be reliable. It is also keenly monitoring whether any local authorities are using unreasonable or unjustified local connection criteria or charges as a means of reducing their obligation to consent.
The role the registers will play, once they are marketed consistently, is in helping councils assess demand of people that want a serviced plot now. Councils are also under a duty under planning policy to consider, for example via surveys, how many people would like to design and build their own home in their borough over a longer timeframe, to tie in with their longer term planning functions.
Building Societies Association (BSA) research found that 53% of people have the ambition to design and build their own home at some point in their lives. In time as people’s awareness of Custom and Self Build grows, the number on the registers should more closely reflect the BSA research.
Consequently, NaCSBA is planning a national consumer campaign in 2019 to increase awareness of the Right to Build registers and make people aware of their rights under the legislation.
Richard Bacon MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Self-Build, Custom and Community Housebuilding and Placemaking and Ambassador of the Task Force said: “I’m delighted to see that the number of people on the Right to Build registers has now grown from 18,000 to over 33,000.
“However, we know that true demand is much higher, as the evidence does not follow through that there are several hundred people on a register in one council area, while a neighbouring one only has double figures. Clearly, more needs to be done to promote the registers and really make them work as an evidence tool in local planning, as we know that half of the adult population wantsto design and build their dream home at some point in their lives.”
Michael Holmes, Chair of NaCSBA, said: “Over 15,000 more people joining the Right to Build registers is extremely positive given that last year’s figureof 18,000 was obtained after only 7 months of most registers launching. However, despite this increase,the promotion undertaken by Councils varies hugely.
“Those that are proactive are reaping the many benefits Custom and Self Build housing can bring todiversify and grow their local housing supply.The Right to Build Task Force, launched by NaCSBA in 2017,is available to helpCouncils promote their registers and allocate sites, as well as working with community groups, developersand landowners.”
