Mark Prisk MP, Dr Paul Chatterton, Kevin McCloud and David Curtis (Homes and Communities Agency).
28 March 2013
Housing Minister Mark Prisk today announced a comprehensive range of measures designed to help people aspiring to build their own homes to get their projects off the ground.
On a visit to a self build cohousing project in Leeds, the Minister said he will be relaxing the rules for support funding under the Community Right to Build, to help even more community groups to bring forward and develop their projects.
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Currently, only those planning to use the new powers under the Community Right to Build have access to a dedicated fund, to build up their development proposals and submit a Community Right to Build Order.
But to ensure anyone has access to this financial support, Mr Prisk said the scheme rules will be expanded to include self builders – giving them access to £14million funding over the next two years to get their projects off the ground.
This is on top of the £30million Custom Build Fund, over half of which has already been earmarked to support 15 different projects across England.
Mr Prisk was joined by industry champion Kevin McCloud as he visited the ‘Low Impact Living Affordable Community’ (LILAC) project in Leeds, which offers aspiring self-builders the chance to build their own homes to high environmental standards.
The project is a straw-bale cohousing scheme comprising eight houses, 12 flats and a shared common house, on a former school site, and it is operated as the UK’s first Mutual Home Ownership Society.
And to support similar self build projects in future, the Minister confirmed that Locality (the organisation that currently administrates the Community Right to Build Fund) will work closely with the National Self Build Association and other community development organisations to encourage more local projects like LILAC to come forward for support.
Mr Prisk said the project was an excellent example for others to follow. “As the LILAC project clearly demonstrates, self-builders are often at the forefront of innovative housing design and environmental building techniques. And with interest in this industry growing, I’m keen to ensure it goes from strength to strength.
“That’s why I’m going to relax the rules on our £14million Community Right to Build Fund, so even more aspiring self builders can get the support they need to get their projects off the ground.
Self Build Industry Champion Kevin McCloud said: “This project shows the power of a community. The people involved in this project haven’t just built affordable green homes for themselves; they’ve created a fantastically strong community that will inspire others.
“I’m delighted that the Government has agreed to support other groups keen to get similar projects off the ground. Often, in the early days, these groups need a small grant or professional help to get their schemes ready to start on site. Access to this fund will help more community groups deliver innovative projects like this.”
Dr Paul Chatterton a co-founder and Secretary of LILAC, said: “This has been an amazing six year journey for a group of ordinary people to dream about and actually build our own affordable and low impact co-housing neighbourhood. We are now excited to share our learning and work with other groups around the country to do the same. We are delighted that the government is committed to supporting more community-led, self build housing.”
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