Member Article

Self-builders in Oldham and Pendle chosen for government pilot

Oldham and Pendle have been selected as two of 11 areas across the country that will benefit from a new government initiative to help aspiring self-builders get their projects off the ground.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council will receive £15,000 to support aspiring self-builders in the area by selling off council-owned land. Pendle Borough Council will receive £46,000 to provide self-build plots in the area, and explore opportunities for affordable homes.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said the 11 areas would be at the forefront of the government’s efforts to help those looking to build their own homes turn their dreams into reality.

The Right to Build scheme is the latest in a range of measures designed to help those looking to build their own home. The chosen areas will establish and maintain a register of prospective custom and self-builders in the area and begin to identify shovel-ready sites for those on the register – becoming the first to offer local people the right to design and build their own home.

Brandon Lewis said: “We’re determined to help anyone who aspires to own their own home – whether that’s buying on the open market through schemes like our Help to Buy, or to build.

“That’s why from today, 11 areas across the country will be the first to offer a new Right to Build, one of a range of measures we’re taking to ensure anyone who wants to build their own home has the opportunity and help they need to do so.

“This is one of a range of measures we’re taking to help aspiring homeowners, but also to get Britain building – and thanks to our efforts, housebuilding levels are at their highest since 2007 and rising.”

House building is at the heart of the government’s long-term economic plan, including supporting people to design and build their own homes – often at a lower cost than buying an existing property.

Ministers are introducing the Right to Build to help more people to do this: aspiring custom or self-builders will be able to register their interest with the council, who will then be required to offer suitable serviced plots for them that are for sale at market value.

This will not be a free-for-all – those looking to build will still need to go through the normal planning application process. But it will open up the opportunity to self-build beyond those with ‘grand designs’ so even more people can realise their self-build ambitions.

The 11 areas announced by Mr Lewis will be the first to offer this new right to their residents, and will each receive a share of £550,000 to do it. They are Cherwell, South Cambridgeshire, Teignbridge, Shropshire, Oldham, West Lindsey, Exmoor and Dartmoor National Park, Pendle, Sheffield, South Norfolk and Stoke-on-Trent.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .