For a number of years, the Welsh Assembly has had devolved powers over planning. It has been know to add some extra hoops you have to jump through to get through planning and Building Regulations. Wales made complying with the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) a requirement when it was still only voluntary in England, adding considerable extra cost. With CSH subsumed into Building Regulations in England, it has also been rescinded in Wales, but the Welsh Assembly has since insisted on the installation of fire suppression or sprinkler systems in all new homes. Many saw this as sensible, but others resented the additional charge for just being on the other side of Offa’s Dyke.
For a while, it seemed like self building here was harder than anywhere else in the UK, but this looks to be changing. Now, the Welsh government has allocated £210m to a new scheme aimed at diversifying the housing market by offering loans to self builders. Under this initiative, due to go live in mid 2019, loans will be made available for pre-agreed building plots.
These are repayment free for up to two years or until the new abode is completed or mortgaged. The upshot is that self building now has the real potential to be a viable option for everyone in Wales, not just for those who are better off.