Recent research by the National Custom and Self-Build Association (NaCSBA) shows that 33,000 people have now signed up to the Right To Build registers.
This means that councils have to grant consent 33,000 serviced plots by 31 October 2020. About half this number will need to be permissioned by 31 October 2019.
Based on a Freedom of Information request to all English local authorities – where the registers apply – the data represents an 80% increase on the first period where figures exist, based on the seven months from April – October 2016 period.
The Right To Build legislation came into effect in April 2016, and requires all English councils to host or manage a register of people who want to create their own custom built or self-built home.
Announced by Richard Bacon MP at the recent NaCSBA Summit, the data is an important reflection of demand for self and custom building. And it is this demand that helps council’s planning officers plan for housing provision in their region.
The data also showed that some councils are using charges and local connection tests on their registers. These are introduced as a way of restricting applications by way of discouraging those who are not that serious about building.
NaCSBA is monitoring the situation for excessive charges or conditions, but the benefit of restricting access is that the plots permissioned locally have a good chance of actually servicing those people who are ready to build or commission their dream home.
Get in touch if you think your local authority is restricting list access or charging unreasonably. However, on the whole NaCSBA welcomes how seriously most authorities are treating their lists.
The Right To Build registers are important evidence tools for local authorities, and those that want to build should not be overly concerned about a large register.
In fact, the more people that sign up the greater variety of plots and development opportunities will come up locally.
Commenting about the data, Richard Bacon, said, “I’m delighted to see that the number of people on the Right to Build registers has now grown from 18,000 to over 33,000. However, we know that true demand is much higher, as the evidence does not follow through that there are several hundred people on a register in one council area, while a neighbouring one only has double figures.
“Clearly, more needs to be done to promote the registers and really make them work as an evidence tool in local planning, as we know that half of the adult population wants to design and build their dream home at some point in their lives.”
