Specialist enabler Custom Build Homes has secured outline planning permission for 14 customisable homes in Hertfordshire. Set in the Green Belt, Cross Nursery in Goffs Oak, was awarded outline permission with support from consultants Tetlow King Planning with an emphasis on demand and viability.
The development is on the site of a former horticultural nursery in a semi-rural location in the Hertfordshire Green Belt. The derelict site will be replaced with new high quality housing set in a carefully designed landscape-dominated layout.
The detached custom build homes, described as “blank canvas” homes, will be fully customisable, and vary in size, on generously sized serviced building plots. If plans go according to expectation then plots will be offered to homebuyers in 2023, offering freedom of choice around room layout, interior fixtures and fittings and green utilities. There is also the opportunity for buyers to participate in their home’s completion to create “sweat equity” that supports affordability.
The application was approved in compliance with Broxbourne Borough Council’s positive local planning policies enabling suitably designed custom and self-build housing to come forward on former nursery sites in the Borough, despite being classified as inappropriate development under Government Green Belt policy.
In setting out the planning case for the site, Custom Build Homes worked closely with Tetlow King to present a strong demand, viability and design-led case, using BuildStore and Custom Build Homes’ demand data to supplement local register demand.
Custom Build Homes noted Broxbourne Borough Council’s officers had a positive and consistent engagement which contributed to bringing the application to a timely determination.
Mario Wolf, Director of Planning at Custom Build Homes said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for our customisable homes range on this challenging green belt site. As a specialist enabler of custom build housing, we work closely with our landowner clients and local authorities to design high quality housing communities which maximise value and are sensitive to their local context.
“I look forward to further positive engagement with the Council as we implement the proposals to build the district’s first fully customisable housing scheme.”
