Ministerial boost for English custom and self-build housing recommendations
BETWEEN 30,000 and 40,000 homes – built by the occupants themselves (directly or by hiring in the necessary skills) – could be delivered every year, according to a set of recommendations “warmly received” by the housing secretary of state for England.
Says a Westminster announcement (here), the recommendations follow a review (here) conducted by MP, Richard Bacon, who is known as a strong supporter of custom and self-build housing.
Begins the announcement: “Proposals to help more people build their own homes have been ‘warmly welcomed’ by the Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP.”
The announcement continues: “The Bacon Review puts forward six recommendations:
- A greater role for Homes England, with the creation of a new Custom and Self Build Housing Delivery Unit supporting the creation of serviced plots on small and large sites and delivery at scale;
- Raise awareness and show by ‘doing’, including with a custom and self-build ‘Show Park’ and a more robust approach to legislation;
- Support community, diversity and levelling up – and crucially by reigniting the Community Housing Fund and creating more opportunities for communities to build;
- Promote greener homes and increased use of Modern Methods of Manufacturing (MMC) – custom and self-build is a leading innovator in these areas, and could be used to signpost the future for government’s MMC and Net Zero Housing ambitions;
- Align custom and self build changes with planning reforms – in particular through maximising opportunities for ‘permissioned’ land for custom and self build, across all tenures; and
- Iron out tax issues to create a level playing field between this type of homes and speculatively built homes.”
Picture credit: Place Design Scotland