15 July 2015
People looking to build their own home in South Cambridgeshire have been given a boost after councillors extended a scheme that looks to match prospective self builders with shovel-ready sites.
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An online register to collect details of sites available and people wanting to self build was launched last year after the district was selected as one of 11 areas to pilot plans for the Government’s Right to Build initiative – and the decision by councillors last week will see the scheme continue.
More than 150 people have registered online to be matched with a plot to build their own home, and the decision at the Cabinet meeting will mean that the Council will invest in an improved register.
Housing Minister Brandon Lewis MP announced South Cambridgeshire District Council as one of the pilot authorities last autumn and £50,000 of government funding was secured to help support people wanting to get a project off the ground. The Right to Build helps people wanting to design and build their own homes and, by continuing the plans, the Council hopes to open up the opportunity to people with modest budgets as well as those with grand ideas.
Anyone looking to build their own home will still need to go through the same planning application process.
New Government legislation that is expected to come into force later this year will mean all areas of England will need to provide similar support to help bring together prospective self builders with land available.
Financing for self build projects can be a barrier to taking the plunge and the Council will also carry out some further work to see if there are ways it can help people get access to money that is available.
Cllr Tim Wotherspoon, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s cabinet member for strategic planning, said: “We have seen during the pilot that there is an appetite in the area with over 150 people registering an interest in building their own home. Finance and land availability are two big barriers for people, particularly those with modest budgets, but we are looking to remove some of those with our commitment.”
