The Housing & Planning Act came into effect on 31st October 2016. With it came the requirement for local councils to take action by monitoring the demand for self and custom build in their areas and ensuring there are enough permissioned plots to meet it.
You may recall the first part of this legislation, the Self & Custom Housebuilding Act, went live in April. At Build It’s last count in late November, all but 13 of the 336 local councils and national parks had introduced a demand register. I know the National Custom & Self Build Association (NaCSBA) is planning to chase up the laggards and persuade them to comply with what is now law.
If this crucial addition to the self and custom build armoury is to work, it’s vital that local authorities not only keep a register, but actively publicise and promote it. If the databases have only a few applicants listed then there will be a valid excuse to claim that there’s little demand for self and custom building – a position we know to be false from Ipsos Mori polls. If you’re looking for land and haven’t already done so, get yourself registered.