4 December 2014
Nearly 80 self/custom build homes are set to appear around England as new schemes make progress and more land is released.
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Plots in the Potteries
The Burslem and Middleport Local Forum has secured over £55,000 in Government money to enlist professional help in developing plans for 16 self build homes on three council-owned sites in the Middleport area of Stoke-on-Trent – one of 11 areas pioneering the new Right to Build scheme.
Local residents and businesses in the group have earmarked 12 homes for the largest site on Newport Lane, with a further four homes split between two sites on Longport Road and Harper Street.
All three schemes will be managed by local regeneration partnership Urban Vision which envisages the council transferring the land to a newly-formed Community Land Trust.
Mick Downs, director of Urban Vision, said: “We are intending to put in a planning application in March next year with a view to starting construction on site as soon as possible.”
Eco-community rallies support
A group hoping to build its own affordable eco-homes is looking for further support as it gears up to realise a scheme on a site in Greater Manchester.
Planning permission has already been secured for ten semi-detached and two detached houses on the one-acre council-owned site off Ward Lane in Diggle and AKA Community hopes to secure the land by competitive tender during the next week.
AKA Community co-founder Deramore Hutchcroft, said: “We already have five people on board with this project and need another two to make this community self build possible. The more support we have, the greater the chance of convincing Oldham Council to sell to people who want to build themselves a unique home.”
A meeting organised by AKA at The Hanging Gate in Diggle on Sunday 7th December at 6pm is offering a final chance for anyone to get involved before the bid is submitted.
Council releases Leeds land
More land for self build homes has been brought to market by Leeds City Council.
The two sites are located at Stonecliffe Drive in Farnley; the first large enough for two dwellings and the second with space to support a single dwelling. Purchasers will need to pay the Council’s costs at 4% of the sale price, subject to a minimum of £1,000.
Expressions of interest should be made to james.child@leeds.gov.uk with offers then invited by a closing date to be confirmed by the Council.
Duke’s business arm plans large self build homes
Northumberland Estates, the privately-owned family firm representing the business interests of the Duke of Northumberland, has submitted plans for the construction of ten five-bed self build homes in the village of Lesbury.
The serviced plots, a quarter-of-an-acre in size, are likely to cost in the region of £100,000 each. According to a spokesperson for the business, construction on site could start as early as next Summer.
‘K1’ seeks developer ahead of Open Day
The Cambridge Cohousing Company (CCHC), together with Cambridge City Council, has started the process to procure an enabling development partner for the 38-home ‘K1’ group custom build project in the Orchard Park development area in the north of the city.
An outline planning application, prepared and submitted by the CCHC based on a client design brief, was boosted by a grant from the Community Led Support Project, administered by the Homes & Communities Agency. There is now an intention to hold an Open Day on 10th January 2015 where plans and architect’s illustrations will be on show followed by a site visit.
Requests for the Tender Prospectus and expressions of interest (by 12th December) are being invited by email to property.services@cambridge.gov.uk. The Council is requesting that expressions should detail an intention to attend the Open Day/site visit and demonstrate an interest in other local and national custom build opportunities.
