You've recently started a new role with the National Custom &
Self Build Association (NaCSBA) −
what can you tell us about it?
My job is to try and promote self build in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by maintaining pressure on government and local authorities. In England, creating focus groups who could feed information back to NaCSBA made a real difference. I want to try and co-ordinate something similar in the areas I represent.
What measures are already being taken to boost self build in those regions?
We are in the process of setting up focus groups to work closely with councils in each of these areas, and they will include people who are already working in the sector and trying to encourage self build. In Scotland, where the committee has already been established, we’ve identified some key areas that we believe need some work, such as legal and fiscal policy, planning and land availability. There is also a concern here about the shortage of skilled tradesmen to work on these projects, so we’re looking at the possibility of forming skills training courses as well.