A substantial site, with the potential to accommodate as many as 50-60 houses, reserved exclusively for self builders, has been earmarked by a council in the Midlands.
The current Local Plan for the area envisaged that the site would probably not be built upon until at least 2026. However, Shropshire Council is amending its policy to bring forward the site on the basis that the land can be tailored for a self build project.
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The site, just north of the A5064 London Road near the Emstrey Island (pictured, to right), does come with some constraints including an escarpment sitting above the River Severn, overhead power lines and, in particular a protected line of road which serves a nearby housing development.
Jake Berriman, from the Planning Policy team at Shropshire Council said: “We are currently evaluating environmental impacts and archaeology, with some desktop studies. Additionally we are taking a close look at access.”
“I’ve spoken with some local architects who have a range of clients looking for self build opportunities themselves, either as first homes or to downsize and retire. Their feeling was that this is a fantastic opportunity. There aren’t many opportunities, of this scale, that come along.”
Shropshire Council’s objective is to try and use a revolving fund to service the site in phases. The idea is to follow the continental model and release individual plots sold on a per square metre basis. However, Mr Berriman expressed a keen wish to work with a community collaboration: “We’d very much like to work with a local self build group who might want to get together to form the ‘Shrewsbury London Road Self Build Group’ or similar. We’d then look at releasing a small part of the land with a number of plots, to enable a cooperative build initiative to be accommodated on the site as well.”
This is not likely to happen immediately – April 2014 is a rough estimate of when things could progress.
“It will be several years, I would have thought, before this gathers pace”, Mr Berriman added.
Tony Parker, NaSBA Local Ambassador said: “This is great news that Shropshire Council is taking such a proactive stance. They have been a major advocate for self building and self build policy regarding smaller affordable self builds. This new policy builds on previous achievements and should assist many other local people fulfil their self build ambitions. I look forward to seeing this project progress as soon as possible”.
