16 December 2014
Two local authorities in South West England are inviting local people interested in building their own home in the community where they live or work to register their interest.
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It is the first step for the Exmoor and Dartmoor and National Park Authorities (EDNPAs) – one of 11 areas pioneering the new Right to Build scheme – in enabling a better understanding of the interest in self build in the area and may lead to more sites coming forward to meet local needs.
The EDNPAs are also interested in what land may be available to meet this need and are inviting landowners to submit suitable self build sites within or adjoining towns and villages. Additionally, the Authorities are keen to hear from potential self builders who may have ideas of where they want to build and may have land or redundant buildings that could be converted into a home.
Despite the gap between house prices and incomes, the EDNPAs both have a strong track record in delivering affordable housing on small sites, and see self build housing as potentially playing an important role in meeting local need for housing in the National Parks in the future. Any proposals for self build housing will be subject to the relevant planning policies for each National Park.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Planning and Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: “Perhaps the most welcome bid was a joint bid for vanguard status from the Exmoor and Dartmoor National Park Authorities. I am delighted that (they) are actively engaging with our proposals. We have no intention of using the Right to Build as a means of encouraging unacceptable development in our most precious landscapes. However, the National Park Authorities are keen to explore how the register could be used to identify and address local housing demand from long-standing residents who work and live in their national parks.”
Andrea Davis, Chairman of Exmoor National Park Authority said: “We are pleased to have been successful in getting agreement to pilot self build together with Dartmoor National Park, the Rural Housing Project and our housing authorities. We are keen to help local people to meet their own housing needs.”
Peter Harper, Chairman of Dartmoor National Park Authority added: “We are proud to be part of this exciting pilot. National Parks are living working landscapes but the gap between house prices and incomes is a significant challenge for us. We are keen work with government to explore new opportunities for local people to build their own homes in their own communities.”
More information on the project, together with instructions on how to register, can be found on the Exmoor National Park Authority and Dartmoor National Park Authority websites.
