20 June 2013
Two initiatives in Scotland are currently in the pipeline to help people realise their self build aspirations.
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Development in Dunblane
Opportunities for self build and community-led development schemes are part of plans for a new housing development at Kippendavie Mains (pictured), east of Dunblane.
The Kippendavie Group Trust, behind the scheme, recently held a public exhibition in the town to display its proposals. These include the creation of a community space incorporating a garden centre, café, visitors centre, open space for walking and cycling, and office accommodation.
Trust member, Roderick MacLeod, said: “This site is one that we’re looking to progress through the Stirling Council Local Development Plan. We’re about to submit an planning permission application for 165 houses, with about 25 reserved for self build and the remainder we’d like to see made available for community-interest groups, in particular. The potential is to offer serviceable plots and a design brief to follow. There is a real opportunity here for local residents looking to build their own home.”
Once approved, it is hoped that the majority of the development would be completed by 2015.
The Self Build Portal understands that there are at least two-dozen people already looking for self build opportunities in Dunblane.
Repopulating in Renfrewshire
Elsewhere, a Scottish council is looking to introduce a self building housing initiative as part of a £1 million ‘repopulation plan’ to boost its local economy. The action plan, recently approved by Inverclyde Council’s Policy & Resources Committee is particularly aimed at encouraging people to move to the area.
The council sees a requirement for a variety of tenures of housing and a variety of ways in which houses can be obtained – and self build is clearly an option. A site for 10-15 houses on Leperstone Avenue in Kilmacolm has already been earmarked for consideration.
Inverclyde’s head of regeneration and planning, Stuart Jamieson, said: “We’ve identified that there could be self build on a number of council sites which are now redundant to needs. The ‘repopulation plan’ will be reported on over the summer period with a view to taking to the Committee in October.
“We don’t have a big population here and we’re interested in self build to help us ‘re-populate’. The site at Kilmacolm would be us dipping our toe in the water.”
