1 April 2015
An English local authority is claiming to be at the forefront of a self build housing revolution – with almost 200 custom and self build homes in the pipeline.
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Plymouth City Council has a wide range of custom and self build housing projects under development on city sites – totalling around 185 units on council land.
One sees the local authority working with The Land Society to bring forward council-owned land in Kings Tamerton for 20-40 self build units. It is understood that the homes – part of a sustainable development with a nature reserve and green open spaces – will be delivered through a Community Land Trust with people working together to build their own affordable homes. A number of community consultation events have been held to establish early interest and a planning pre-application process is now underway.
Another scheme could see former city council-owned land in Honicknowle/Manadon redeveloped by Spectrum Housing to feature 100 homes with four serviced plots for self/custom build homes. Planning is set to be submitted in late April/early May.
Other projects include a scheme for service veterans; over 90 homes at Bickleigh Eco Village; 30 homes at Little Dock Lane, West Park; and eight serviced plots in Ernesettle and Whitleigh.
The local authority is one of many to receive a letter from the Housing Minister Brandon Lewis urging it to recognise local demand for custom and self build housing.
Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance for Plymouth City Council, said: “We welcome this announcement, but Plymouth is already leading the way when it comes to enabling more custom and self build housing. As part of our Plan for Homes, which aims to address the chronic housing shortage by delivering more than 1,000 new homes every year for the next five years, we are committed to a number of initiatives to help make this happen, including self build opportunities.”
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Council Cabinet Member for Cooperatives, Housing and Community Safety, added: “It is great that Plymouth is at the forefront of the custom and self build housing revolution and that the Government is picking up on this administration’s initiative in Plymouth.
“The Council currently has around 72 householders with a registered interest in self build but we believe this recorded level of interest is just the tip of the iceberg and many more people will express an interest in custom and self build.”
