Has anyone else been following this? It imposes a duty on local authorities to maintain a register of interestd self builders. The upcoming Housing Act 2016 will then impose another duty on planmakers to ensure a supply of suitable sites to meet the demand documented in the register. I think this could be really significant, if it works as I hope it will.

Any thoughts?

I'm more interested in the impact on planning generally.

The new act will essentially give the LPA another supply figure to hit. So, if Joe Selfbuilder buys a field without planning consent in an area that doesn't have an adequate supply of self build plots (regardless of 5 year supply figures), then I think it it will be relatively hard to refuse consent, regardless of what the local plan says about the desirability of the development otherwise.

The obligation is in the new housing bill currently going through the lords. It will be enacted later this year apparently. Currently, it requires LPAs to deliver consents to meet the numbers on their register. I think this could be quite significant.

Posted By: converseCurrently, it requires LPAs to deliver consents to meet the numbers on their register. I think this could be quite significant.

So get friends and family to register interest in self build to bulk up the numbers, then buy your field and apply for PP

<blockquote><cite>Posted By: snyggapa</cite>looks to me like the killer is

" development permission is “suitable” if it is permission in
respect of development that could include self-build and
custom housebuilding."

so anything that "could" be suitable for self-build counts towards the target, even if it is not..? seems to me that any planning permission "could" be suitable..</blockquote>

Maybe, but Its arguable, and in planning that counts for a lot. I wouldn't accept a consent "could" be suitable if it was on a site controlled by one of the major housebuilders for example - they don't sell plots to selfbuilders as far as I'm aware. The onus will be on LPAs to demonstrate they have hit their numbers, and developers like me will obviously be arguing that they haven't.

Additionally I think LPAs are going to start pressuring developers to define and release a certain percentage of plots for selfbuilders, much as happens in Germany. This could be good news for a lot of people, and could help improve standards generally if housebuilders are competing with motivated green builders. We need more selfbuilders to show what can be achieved with vision and hard work.

Posted By: conversedevelopers like me

For people like me with short memories, and for new joiners, could you explain your perspective a little?

<blockquote><cite>Posted By: djh</cite><blockquote><cite>Posted By: converse</cite>developers like me</blockquote>
For people like me with short memories, and for new joiners, could you explain your perspective a little?</blockquote>
Not sure what you mean exactly, but we build small numbers of low energy usage houses, out of the conviction that it is the right thing to do. A fundamental issue that we have as a company is that we compete with developers building houses down to minimum building regs standards. They can afford to pay more for land than we can as their construction costs are much lower.

Any initiative that could help ease planning consents on smaller sites could help. So my perspective is that this could be a good thing, depending on how it works in practice.

Thanks Andrew.