12 July 2012
Responding to the government’s inclusion of a ‘self build clause’ in the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), self builders are forming groups to share knowledge and skills, source land and ultimately set community self build projects in motion.
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A group in Wymondham, Norfolk has already prepared a ‘Self Build Norfolk’ paper to garner support for self build in the county. According to Self Build Norfolk’s figures, by way of example; Wymondham, where the group is based, is currently earmarked to take 2,200 new homes in the emerging Local Development Framework and if self build were to account for just 10% of this quota, this could potentially deliver 220 self build plots in that area alone and 1,600 in South Norfolk as a whole.
Call to action
Group spokesman and Architect, Matt Wood said; “Our paper has already attracted some interest locally, but ultimately our call to action is to Norfolk’s local authorities, construction professionals, architects, contractors and potential self-builders to help bring about a self-build revolution in Norfolk.”
Devon and Oxfordshire
Two further groups are also establishing plans in Devon and Oxfordshire, supported by the Build a Dream Self Build Association (BADSBA). Meeting in Exeter and Abingdon, the sub-groups, run by volunteers, are sharing best practice, working on site sourcing and visiting existing self builds throughout the country.
For more information on these community self build groups, visit www.selfbuildnorfolk.co.uk and www.badsba.co.uk
