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We talk to Nancy Winfield, project manager for Herefordshire Centre for Community Led Housing, to investigate what kind of opportunities are available to self builders in the area
Bristol CLT’s Fishponds community self build features 12 homes built by local residents. Find out more at www.bristol clt.org.uk
Tell us a bit about this initiative – what are its main aims?
The Herefordshire Centre for Community Led Housing was started as an independent service to advise groups who are interested in setting up collective initiatives in their area. It was enabled thanks to the government’s £163m Community Housing Fund, of which Herefordshire council was allocated £503,000.
Part of my job is to look at the area’s Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDPs), which were set up to give parish councils greater control over local housing decisions. These allow residents to put forward recommendations for areas they’d like to see developed and what kind of accommodation they think should be built, via a referendum or questionnaire. Some NDPs specify land for self build and others simply put in policies that encourage projects.