Self Build and Custom Housebuilding

What are self-build and custom housebuilding?

"Self-build" refers to projects where individuals or groups directly organise the design and construction of new homes. Custom housebuilding involves individuals or groups working with a specialist developer to deliver new homes that meet their specific aspirations and needs.

The government believes that these types of development can play an important role in delivering high-quality housing that meets the needs of all sections of the community. This is a central goal of the National Planning Policy Framework.

The Council is seeking to provide sites for self-build and custom-build housing through its emerging Site Allocations Plan. In the interim prior to this plan being adopted, the Council has published a Members Information Sheet in respect of Self-build and Custom Housebuilding.

What is the register?

The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding (Register) Regulations 2016 oblige all district councils in England to keep a register of individuals (and associations of individuals) who are seeking to acquire serviced plots of land in their area. A plot is deemed 'serviced' if it has access to a public highway and connections for electricity, water and waste water.

The most recent summary of the register data and an analysis report of the data was published in July 2021.

Notes and advice

• You are not making any commitment by registering an interest. The main purpose of the register is to help us judge the local demand for self-build and custom build housing.
• We cannot guarantee that we will be able to identify a suitable plot for you or that landowners will make land available.
• We may use the information that you provide to put you in contact with landowners and developers who have sites that could potentially be used for self-build or custom build housing.
• Your personal details will not be made available for public viewing. Anonymous headline data extracted from the register may be published (i.e. the overall numbers of entries in various categories, geographical areas, types of housing sought, etc.)
• Please indicate on the form if you do not want your personal contact details held on the register. In these cases, we will not contact you further about self and custom build issues and you will have to visit our website to check for further developments or information.
• The rest of your information will be used by the council for strategic planning, information and statistical purposes only.

Eligibility

1. You are eligible to sign up to the register as an individual if you meet the three criteria below:

a. aged 18 or over;
b. a British citizen, a national of an EEA State other than the United Kingdom, or a national of Switzerland; and
c. seeking (either alone or with others) to acquire a serviced plot of land in Stratford-on-Avon District to build a house that you will occupy as your sole or main residence.

2. An association or group can sign up to the register if each member meets the three eligibility requirements laid out above.

To sign up to the register complete a self-build registration form:

• Self-Build Registration Form - PDF version
• Self-Build Registration Form - Word version

Submitting sites for self-build/custom housebuilding development

Local authorities are required to give planning permission to enough suitable serviced plots to meet the demand for self-building and custom housebuilding in their area (see the "What is the register?" section above for the definition of a "serviced plot").

There are various ways in which the district council can offer opportunities for self-build housing schemes. It can also grant planning permission for schemes that come forward through planning applications, subject to sites being in appropriate locations and suitable for development. Plots are expected to be provided on both new settlements to be developed in the district, at Gaydon/Lighthorne Heath and Long Marston Airfield.

In addition, the preparation of the Site Allocations Plan provides an opportunity for landowners who wish to promote self-build schemes to advise the district council of sites that are available. Consideration will then be given to whether a site is appropriate to be identified in the Plan for this purpose. If you wish to submit a site to be considered as an allocation specifically for a self-build development please complete our self-build and custom housebuilding call for sites form.

• Self-build and custom housebuilding call for sites form - PDF version
• Self-build and custom housebuilding call for sites form - Word version

Self-build housing design guidance

In addition to all other requirements, applications for Self-Build schemes must be accompanied by a ‘Design Code' (Plot Passport) or similar which sets out design principles for the site and be clear how all matters outside the individual plots (see Local List) will be delivered. Our self-build housing guidance provides a list of matters that should be considered in order to achieve good design.

Find out more

You can find more information and advice on self/custom build homes at the following National Custom & Self Build Association (NaCSBA) websites:

• Self-Build Portal
• Right to Build Toolkit

Which have produced an interactive step-by-step-guide on building your own house.

Please note that the District Council takes no responsibility for the content of other websites.

You can contact the Planning Policy team on 01789 260399 or email planning.policy@stratford-dc.gov.uk.

This page can be accessed quickly using the short link via www.stratford.gov.uk/selfbuild