Ministers have named 11 councils that will share half a million pounds to support self-builders get housing projects off the ground.
Regions including South Norfolk District Council, Shropshire Council and Sheffield City Council will test new powers offered to residents under the Government’s Right To Build scheme.
The programme will see town halls maintaining a register of prospective custom and self-builders and identifying ‘shovel-ready’ sites for them to take up. The Government emphasised the scheme would not lead to a construction ‘free for all’, with those looking to build still required to go through the normal planning application process.
Regions named today will be required to deliver a certain number of custom build homes, plots of land or housing policy over an allotted period. Cherwell District Council, which will receive £90,000, is committed to deliver 2,000 residences over the next decade.
This first wave of areas will form part of a consultation on Right to Build, which could be extended across the country later this year.
‘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,’ said housing minister Brandon Lewis.
‘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, house building levels are at their highest since 2007 and rising.’
Proposals included in a Private Member’s Bill currently going through Parliament would require councils to keep a register of individuals who have expressed an interest in finding land for their self-build projects.
The full list of new Right to Build areas:
• Cherwell District Council - £90,000
• South Cambridgeshire District Council - £50,000
• Teignbridge District Council - £100,000
• Shropshire Council - £10,200
• Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council - £15,000
• West Lindsey District Council - £5,000
• Exmoor and Dartmoor National Park Authorities - £28,000
• Pendle Borough Council - £46,000
• Sheffield City Council - just under £100,000
• South Norfolk District Council - £25,000
• Stoke-on-Trent City Council
