Are you interested in self-build and custom build housing? The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 requires local authorities to keep and maintain a register of people who are interested in self-build and custom build housing projects in their area. This will help us to find out more about the demand for custom and self-build plots in the Borough of Ipswich, where people would like their plot to be and the type of dwelling that they would like to build.
Legal and Policy Definition
The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended by the Housing and Planning Act 2016) provides a legal definition. The Act does not distinguish between self-build and custom housebuilding and provides that both are where an individual, an association of individuals, or persons working with or for individuals or associations of individuals, build or complete houses to be occupied as homes by those individuals.
This statutory definition can effectively be simplified to: A home built to the plans or specifications decided by the occupant.
Whilst the distinction between self-build and custom housebuilding is not required in legislation, it is helpful to set out clearly the line between the two.
Self-build involves the occupier of a new home taking responsibility for the design, construction and funding of the home, inclusive of infrastructure and servicing requirements. Self-builders are in control of their development timeline and are not bound by any requirement to act in a given way to satisfy the needs of a developer, contractor, landowner or specialist enabler, with the exception of any statutory requirements imposed by a mortgage lender, insurer or local planning authority.
Custom build involves the occupier of a new home commissioning or building their new custom home through a range of housing delivery models facilitated and/or supported by a landowner, developer, contractor, or enabler.
Custom builders commit to delivering their new home as part of a pre-defined process when they agree to purchase a serviced plot of land, including taking the responsibility to construct their home themselves. A serviced plot of land:
a) has access to a public highway and has connections for electricity, water and wastewater; or
b) can be provided with those things in specified circumstances or within a specified period.
This commitment typically requires them to act within defined parameters designed to manage house design and size as well as the timescale for construction. It also requires them to accept these constraints which are typically enforced by clauses inserted into plot purchase agreements, such as step-in rights or a buy-back clause which help to manage the development process across a development for the landowner, developer, contractor or enabler.
All self-build and custom build housing is subject to the usual planning permissions.
Applications for Self-Build and Custom Builds
The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended by the Housing and Planning Act 2016) requires councils to meet the demand for self-build and custom build plots in their area, and this requires robust and ongoing monitoring of the plot supply. Furthermore, if the application is a self-build or custom build then this is a material consideration which is relevant to making a planning decision.
Applicants and agents are requested to clarify whether their application is for a self-build or custom build dwelling(s) as early as possible, and at the time the application is made this should be identified on the Application for Planning Permission form (Question 17 - Residential Units) and in relevant supporting documents.
If in doubt as to whether an application qualifies please contact Ipswich Borough Council Development Management on 01473 432913.
What is the Custom and Self Build Register?
Local Authorities have had a statutory obligation to maintain a self and custom build register - Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended by the Housing and Planning Act 2016).
The Self and Custom Build Register is a register of the number of individuals and associations of individuals who are seeking to acquire serviced plots of land in the local authority area for self and custom housebuilding.
The Self and Custom Build Register is intended to give a general indication of local demand and there is no requirement to match permissioned land to individuals on the register.
Applicants must meet the national eligibility criteria for inclusion on the register. Each individual applicant and every member of an association of individuals that applies for entry on the register must:
Individuals who wish to register as an association must appoint a member to act as the lead contact for the purposes of correspondence between the association and the Borough Council.
To register your interest please complete the online registration form linked below.
By signing up you will be helping is find out more about demand for self-build and custom housebuilding plots in Ipswich.
In order to keep the Register up to date we may contact you from time to time to check whether you wish to remain on the register.
The register will not be a public document, but we may publish headline data from it annually.
The report below sets out headline data on demand for self-build and custom housebuilding revealed by the register.
If you would like to know more about self-build and custom build or have any queries about the registration process please contact Anna Roe on 01473 432911 or by email to planningpolicy@ipswich.gov.uk.
If you are a local landowner with a piece of land you believe may be suitable for self-build or custom build please contact Anna Roe on 01473 432911 or by email to planningpolicy@ipswich.gov.uk.
External links
Ipswich Borough Council,
Grafton House,
15-17 Russell Road,
Ipswich,
IP1 2DE
01473 432000
