Richard Bacon MP, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Self Build, Custom and Community Housebuilding and Placemaking and the National Custom and Self Build Association held 2016’s Right to Build Summit last night in the Terrace Room, House of Commons.
It was announced that 12,500 custom and self build homes were completed in 2015, a year on year growth of 6%. This shows a reversal of the post credit crunch decline and is a big step towards the Government’s target of 20,000 custom and self build homes by 2020.
Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: “We are committed to helping people build their own home and have ensured councils now have to keep a register of aspiring self and custom house builders when planning for future housing and land use.
“More than 10,000 people build their own home each year and the new registers are another step in helping to double the number of custom and self build homes each year.
“We are determined 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.”
Richard Bacon MP also discussed the launch of Custom & Self Build Demand Registers, which are now required in England by law (from April 1st) under the Self Build & Custom Homebuilding Act.
Talking at the event, NaCSBA Chairman Michael Holmes launched the findings of the association’s latest survey into custom and self building run in conjunction with Ipswich Building Society. The survey revealed that 9.7m people want to see a larger proportion of new homes being built via custom or self build routes, which would in turn increase public support for building more new homes. In terms of knowledge the survey revealed that 1 in 10 are aware of the introduction of Right to Build Registers in England, with some respondents having already registered.
NaCSBA Chairman Michael Holmes said: “The success of the Right to Build Policy initiative and the delivery of land to meet the huge pent up demand depends on the registers. That is why NaCSBA is today launching a new website RightToBuildPortal.org, which promotes compliant NaCSBA approved demand registers. Currently only 35% of LPAs have adopted a register and we will be working hard to get this to 100%, in addition ensuring Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland adopt the right too.”
Paul Winter, CEO, Ipswich Building Society said: “We have long been in involved in the self build market and have seen many changes. The register will give potential self builders a welcome boost; although there is already a healthy interest in self build mortgages, we anticipate that this new register will stimulate increased demand from borrowers and may perhaps see lenders making self build mortgages more accessible. Due to the complex nature of a self build project, those seeking these specialist mortgages are advised to research the market and seek out a provider, and product, that best suits their individual needs and circumstances.”
