Richard Bacon MP wants more land to be made available to help people commission their own homes. Bacon says more plots should be sold to groups or individuals so they can self or custom build their own houses. “If we were developing as many self-build units as the Netherlands, we’d be creating an extra 60,000 homes a year,” says Bacon. The MP championed 2016’s Right to Build Act, under which councils are obliged to monitor the demand for self-build in their catchment area, and provide sufficient sites to meet that.
4 months before you plan to begin your project onsite is the point at which you should book in a contractor to avoid missing out, according to new research published by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The findings also show many homeowners don’t ask for essential details, such as a contract and references, before engaging a pro. “We’re urging people who are keen to crack on with their schemes to get in touch with prospective builders as soon as possible,” says Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB.