The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has issued new planning guidance on self-build and custom build. The advice presents a fresh definition of these routes to homeownership as developments where “the initial owner of the home will have a primary input into its final design and layout”. Under current legislation, councils are obliged to keep online registers of people who want to create their own houses, and provide enough plots to meet demand. The guidance confirms that they can have a two-part database, for locals and nonlocals, and that if they can give a strong justification, they may only be obliged to provide sites for those signed up to the first list. Controversially, local authorities will also be eligible for exemption if demand from the register equates to over 20% of their annual housing target.