22 January 2015
Two self build schemes are coming to fruition in England as another local authority pioneering the Right to Build scheme begins to list the local people who wish to build their own homes.
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Oldham scheme gets green light as council launches register
Oldham Council’s planning committee has granted permission for the construction of 37 new self build homes in South Werneth.
As part of its wider plans to complete the regeneration of the area, the council sold the site to Community Build Werneth Ltd (CBW) in February 2014. The community-led association will now create four to six-bedroom detached homes for its members to live in – the largest such scheme in Greater Manchester. It is anticipated that the development will take around two years to complete.
Councillor Dave Hibbert, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Housing, said: “As a co-operative Council, we want to offer residents the opportunity to collectively own and develop the type of housing that they want in their area. This scheme will enable economically active families to remain in their neighbourhoods and the development will help play a key role as part of our wider plans with residents and partners to regenerate Werneth.
The council, recently awarded vanguard status under the Government’s Right to Build pilot scheme, has also launched its online register for people interested in building their own homes and hopes to find out more about the number and location of sites which are required in Oldham, and the types of houses that people would like to construct or have built for them.
Those that register will be expressing an interest in purchasing, at market value, a plot within the council’s boundaries, and will be contacted if a suitable site becomes available.
Self build plots allocated at Bedfordshire development
Barratt Homes has allocated seven serviced plots at its Marston Park development of over 100 homes in the village of Marston Moretaine. The plots, managed by Compass Land & Development and priced at £150,000 each, are consented for four to five-bed detached houses.
Self builders will have the benefit of a licence to build one of Barratt’s approved house types (pictured) or have the flexibility to submit their own planning application to change the house type if they wish. Gas, water, electric and telephone services will be provided ready for self builders to apply for their connections and all homes will need to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level Three energy requirements. Delivering a Barratt-type home on one of the plots could see the property end-value reach £340-350,000.
Compass Land & Development’s Malcolm Folbigg said: “Four of the plots already have sales agreed. Two are currently available and the third, currently housing a compound owned by Barratt’s, will be free by the end of this year.”
