4 February 2014
An affordable community self build housing support organisation is to help deliver 46 homes in two South Devon villages.
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The Land Society’s proposals include 40 homes on a site in Buckfastleigh and six eco-homes on a two-acre site in the village of Broadhempston, just a few miles south of Newton Abbot.
It is understood that the Society is also about to start working with a group in Plymouth, having been approached by many families keen to build their own homes in this area too.
The Society helps groups of local people get together (typical groups consist of 5-20 households). They use a standard (though locally adaptable) eco-house design that is easy to build with basic DIY skills and the self builders also work closely with a team from a local College who provide additional support and training. The organisation also helps groups secure suitable land at low cost by working with local parish councils. The land is then held in a formal Community Land Trust (CLT).
This approach means that the self builders are able to deliver a new three bed home (including the cost of the site, the building materials and all their training) for around £100,000 – typically less than half the price of an existing property of the same size. For further information on the process check out this case study.
