Land promoter Leaper Land has resubmitted a planning application to Wokingham Borough Council for its Hurst site of 33 custom build homes. It is calling on anyone interested in building locally to offer their support for the initiative, which is providing valuable opportunities for anyone wanting input into their home.
How you can support Leaper Land’s Hurst application:
Leaper Land submitted the original planning application for the site at Broadcommon Road, late in 2022, but this was refused, largely on the basis of unsustainable development in the countryside, but also sited insufficient affordable homes.
As part of the new outline application Leaper Land has increased the amount of affordable homes from 40% (as required by Wokingham’s local plan) to 50%.
It has also proposed that 25% of the affordable homes will be discount open market custom and self build – meaning that people who might not otherwise be able to afford to build can access the plots. In addition, it is also looking into how the initial residents for other affordable home types can have a say in how their home is finished.
Other changes have involved replacing a proposed block of flats with more typical terraces and semi-detached homes, all of which overlook an enlarged public open space.
When it comes to planning your custom or self build, factoring in an interior designer can pay dividends, ensuring the interior of your home doesn’t become an afterthought that you regret.
Anyone working to create their dream home will spend a long term planning the build, and there’s a myriad of build and design decisions to be made, but interiors often get overlooked as budget constraints kick in. Too often with self builds you see a fantastic vision delivered by a builder or architect, but the interiors don’t reflect the design quality of the build.
Typical mistakes are a lack of planning around window treatments and lighting, as well as a failure to factor in SMART home tech into the design. Furniture from previous homes can look lost in the new setting, and colour, pattern and texture can seem intimidating in a pristine build.
But employing an interior design company can guarantee an incredibly bespoke and beautiful design for your property to give it the finish it deserves. Costs may be an issue, but if you factor them in from the start it won’t come as something to be sacrificed at the end when money is tight.
Budgeting for an interior designer also ensure that any SMART home features, such as Lutron lighting, Sonos speakers or different heating systems all work in conjunction with the completed design.
We spoke to professional interior designer and NaCSBA member Katie Malik Design Studio for the key considerations in working with a specialist.
Working with an interior design company ensures a sophisticated level of professionalism teamed with competent project management.
While designers and their client often bond over their big ideas for a blank space, an interior design professional will be able to:
A reputable interior design studio will have exceptional taste and be up to date with the latest in interior trends. This characteristic combined with their experience to create an incredible and exciting design for your property.
Whilst private clients may have designs in mind for creating interiors, working with a reputable interior design professional can ensure the design and execution of a breathtaking creation.
Employing an interior design professional can ensure that your project is managed to an impeccable standard and that the components of the design work in harmony to ensure optimum functionality of each space.
Using design software enables professionals to:
In addition, interior design companies also come with excellent lists of tradesmen and innovative design technology providers. The team will know who is the best in the business to deliver the ambitions of the project.
Katie says, “Katie Malik Studio has overcome a range of challenges when working with a diverse range of properties and the design plans of the owners. Thorough our knowledge of the industry, the latest trends and our close network of trusted tradesmen we work to bring a project to life.
Using an interior design studio does come with a cost attached, but it will be an investment in your home that will pay dividends for years to come as you enjoy living and working in a space tailored to your needs. It can be very easy to become overwhelmed with the prospect of interiors, but working with an interior designer brings creative and cohesive solutions that can save a lot of money, time and stress in getting it right the first time round.”
Credits: Design by Katie Malik Studio, images by Maciek Platek Food & Interior Photography.
Scotland is leading the way in the UK with a trailblazing piece of legislation that requires all new homes to meet a new Scottish passive standard by 2024, including owner-commissioned or self build homes.
Similar to the Passivhaus Standard, the new regulations set a minimum standard for environmental design standards, meaning all new build homes must meet set levels of airtightness, insulation and energy standards.
Doing this will offer a better lived experience for residents, delivering high levels of thermal performance and energy efficiency that should help manage energy costs, as well as meet wider climate challenges.
The change is set out in the new Domestic Building Environmental Standards Bill, and it is expected that secondary legislation will be passed in Scotland to ensure the standard is being me by 2024.
Alex Rowley MSP introduced the change through a private member’s bill calling for all new housing to meet Passivhaus standard, or a Scottish equivalent, a direct response to the Scottish Climate Assembly Recommendations for Action around homes.
Jon Bootland, CEO, Passivhaus Trust said, “It is a truly forward-thinking approach by the Scottish Government and a positive response to the 2021 Scottish Climate Assembly recommendations.
“They are to be applauded for taking this crucial step towards meeting their Net Zero/ Climate Emergency goals. Now we must ensure that the Bill is well developed and implemented to deliver the greatest impact on the actual performance of new homes in Scotland.”
For anyone looking for land, Potton has a range of plots available to make the process easier. Searching for land remains one of the most significant barriers to anyone wishing to self build, but more and more companies are now bringing on multi-plot sites where custom or self build is an option.
Potton has a range of both types of plot options available, as do other NaCSBA members, such as Hugr Homes’ Wellbank site in Cumbria.
Typically on such sites you custom build, where you engage with an enabler already associated with the site to build out your home, with various options for customisation on a site by site basis. But on some multi-plot sites you can self build, so it is worth talking to the promoter about the route available on a development.
For self building on such sites you may have the freedom to commission your own home for the plot, although you will have to meet some preset requirements. These are typically set out on a development level in the design code, and a plot level in the Plot Passport.
Just north of Swindon, Tadpole Garden Village is an award winning Crest Nicholson development, that includes 14 plots of land. Buyers can customise the Potton custom build home that is agreed for each site. Plots are currently all reserved, but it’s always worth registering your interest as buyers sometimes fail to proceed – meaning the plot returns to the market.
Set in a village near Maidenhead, Kent, this development includes nine plots, in a range of sizes, where buyers can custom build. Potton will work with the buyers in the design and construction of the home, which contractor Northchurch Homes will then provide a fixed-price for the build of the turnkey home – meaning they build the entire house. Buyers have complete control of the internal layout and specification.
You can expect more sites like these to come forward over 2023, including in Norfolk, Kent, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Sussex, Worcester, Essex and Bedfordshire.
The beauty of such multi-plot sites is that they come with certainty that a house can be built from a planning point of view, with services and wider infrastructure, like roads, in place.
Potton also offers a range of training opportunities, including dedicated Ask the Experts sessions where you can get help and advice about your project – whatever stage you are at.
Visit its Self Build Academy for details, including of its next events in January, at both the Potton Show Centre in Cambridgeshire and the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon.
Custom Build Homes has secured outline planning permission at Cross Nursery in Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire for 14 detached homes that can be customised to buyer’s choices. Coming to the market in 2023, the development includes a range of house and serviced-plot sizes.
The company secured outline permission with the help of planning consultants Tetlow King Planning on the site of a derelict former horticultural nursery site in a semi-rural location in the Hertfordshire Green Belt.
The plots are laid out in an attractive landscape, and come with permission for “blank canvas” homes that are fully customisable, with buyers having freedom of choice around room layout, interior fixtures and fittings and green utilities. There is also the opportunity to build in greater affordability by using “sweat equity”, whereby owners can take part in their home’s completions.
The application at Cross Nursery was approved in compliance with Broxbourne Borough Council’s supportive local planning policies, which enables suitably designed custom and self-build housing to come forward on former nursery sites in the borough. This is despite being classified as inappropriate development under Government Green Belt policy.
In making the planning case Custom Build Homes worked closely with Tetlow King to present a strong demand, viability and design-led case, with BuildStore and Custom Build Homes’ demand data being an important part of the planning arguments.
Custom Build Homes praised the officers at Broxbourne Borough Council for their positive and consistent engagement on the Cross Nursery site, with Mario Wolf, Director of Planning at Custom Build Homes saying: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for our customisable homes range on this challenging green belt site.
“As a specialist enabler of custom build housing, we work closely with our landowner clients and local authorities to design high quality housing communities which maximise value and are sensitive to their local context.”
Find your self build register on the Self Build Portal.
South Gloucestershire Council has announced the availability of six self build plots within the Charfield Gardens development, close to the market town of Wotton-under-Edge (Planning reference PT16/6924/O). The six self build plots have been launched as part of a ‘percentage policy’ scheme that requires developers to sell at least 5% of plots on residential and mixed-use sites to self and custom builders (applied on sites over 100 homes).
The size of each plot at Charfield Gardens ranges from 220m² to 254m² and are priced from £125,000. The plots are on the larger Barratt Homes development in Charfield Village, which includes permission for 121 residences and a retail unit, as well as public open space, play areas, allotments, and an orchard.
The six self build plots come with utilities, including foul and surface water drainage, water, gas, electric and telecom. Purchasers must submit a full planning application, outlining the appearance of the build, as well as outline proposals for landscaping, scale and layout.
Planning applications must be aligned with the wider design of the site, as well as the individual Plot Passport, which is a simple and succinct summary of the design parameters for a given plot.
This welcome move makes sets the council apart as a great example of a local authority working to support those people on its self build register.
Image by Mastersenaiper from Pixabay
On Right to Build Day (30 October) NaCSBA published a letter calling for an end to the practice whereby local authorities place unfair financial tests that prevent people signing their local self build Register.
Importantly, the letter is supported by the mortgage sector, including the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, the Building Societies Association and UK Finance.
NaCSBA is sharing the letter to bring an end to the minority of councils applying unnecessary and bureaucratic tests that must be passed before someone can join a self build register. Effectively these few councils are restricting people’s ambitions – and legal right – to sign their self build register.
The legislation does enable local authorities to set tests for people wanting to sign the register, which include local connection and financial tests. But the guidance for these states that these should only be applied where there is a “strong justification” for doing so.
However, some of the tests are completely unnecessary and unfair, such as the requirement to have a mortgage offer in place or to have written confirmation of funds from a qualified financial adviser.
In addition, some of these policies also refer to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, which ceased to exist in July 2017, with its activities now undertaken by UK Finance.
The letter recommends that:
It is not appropriate to ask for a mortgage offer to join a Register.
This can typically only be obtained when access to land with planning permission has been assured. Any person who is in this position has therefore no need to join a Register.
It is not appropriate to ask for an Approval in Principle.
Such a document has a specific place in the house purchase process, and the regulatory environment. The production of an Approval in Principle (AIP) involves time and cost for an applicant, the mortgage adviser and for the mortgage lender. An AIP typically includes a credit assessment of the customer. This process can result in credit footprints that can ultimately reduce access to credit including future mortgage lending. An AIP has a limited life (no more than 6 months) which is much shorter than the time in which the local authority has to act.
It is not appropriate to ask for other written evidence from a fully qualified financial adviser.
An adviser would typically charge a fee for such work, and as noted above any activity this far in advance of any mortgage application is of no wider underlying value to the customer.
Andrew Baddeley-Chappell CEO of the National Custom & Self Build Association stated: “A limited but growing number of local authorities are making it too difficult for potential self builders to benefit from the law. This is unfair and wasteful of the resources of individuals and the mortgage sector. We are hugely grateful to the mortgage sector for their support in enabling our sector to deliver more and better homes.”
Kevin McCloud (Presenter, Grand Designs) stated: “At a time when we need more sustainability and affordable homes, it is beyond belief that any council is making it impossible for such homes to be delivered.”
NaCSBA has also published a briefing note setting out the context around the Right to Build legislation and registers.
What has become known as the Right to Build legislation requires all local authorities to establish a Register of all those who wish to build or commission a home and to then ensure that sufficient plot ‘permissions’ come forward to meet that demand.
The financial solvency test is designed to assess the ability of an applicant to purchase the land and build a self build home. However, the examples above applied by some local authorities effectively make them too hard and / or too expensive for applicants to pass.
There will also be an assessment of financial resources. The Council will require relevant evidence of sufficient resources as follows:
(Source: letter from Solihull Council to everyone already registered on its register)
The council will require relevant evidence of sufficient resources as follows:
(Source: Epping Council Self Build FAQs)
Financial Solvency Test:
(Source: Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register: Advisory Notes)
Potton has transformed its Caxton showhome with a design makeover to mark its 30 years as the founding property in the Potton Self Build Show Centre in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
Many aspiring self builders in England have made the trip to see Potton’s well-know Show Centre where they can experience the five furnished show properties. The builds showcase a range of styles, from a contemporary passive house to traditional classics, such as its popular Georgian-style home.
If you can’t get to the show centre in person, check out the gallery for a preview of the redesign. Not only does this demonstrate how a traditional framed self-build can age gracefully, but it inspires visitors about how they can combine classic self build features with a fresh modern take.
Based on a dormer cottage, the Caxton has always been a popular design for Potton – inspiring many similar homes. Potton can recreate the homes at the show centre, or tailor them with infinite permutations to create the ideal home for your needs.
Potton chose Zoe Godbold from ic7design – a self builder herself – for the redesign, with the brief to make a space that suited modern living trends, that could work equally well for a growing family or couple looking to downsize.
Zoe’s clever use of colour blocking, paired with contemporary accent wallpapered walls, ensure the design was on point while maintaining the cottage-vibe that is essential to this much loved design. This helped keep the finished look both cosy and welcoming while packed with personality.
Zoe wanted to make the most of the exposed beams, an essential part of the look, using them to define three distinctive spaces in the kitchen/dining space by creating a snug area to relax in, a hub around the kitchen island, and the dining area for entertaining.
The designs are completed with a lighting scheme incorporating lamps, uplighters, downlights and dimmers to bring drama and warmth to the rooms.
Paint skirting, architraves and doors the same shade or colour as other woodwork, such as beams, to bring the design together. This can be picked up with furniture and fittings details, such as legs or shelves.
Limit wood tones to make designs pull together or use bold contrasting shades to emphasise a design feature.
Pick up colours from integral features – such as the Caxton’s fireplace – to pull room colour schemes together.
Choose a metal accent colour and repeat it across the house if planning a self build, such as the black wrought iron which is used on door furniture, lighting and bath fittings here.
Consider rooms that have more than one function, to make sure the house can adapt to a range of users. For example, incorporating quiet corners, spaces for work or hobbies or by using clever furniture, such as bookcase headboards, as these can make bedrooms work much harder.
Guest rooms offer a chance to create a really special space, with their own personality – don’t be afraid to be bold with your choices and create a space you might not choose for your own bedroom.
Paint colour can be a cost-effective way to inject personality and drama – try large test patches to get a sense of the colour before investing, as it will look different in different spaces.
Email to find out more about Zoe’s work.
NaCSBA has called out Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council for its “shameful actions” in amending the conditions for joining its Right to Build register to make it almost impossible for most people to sign up.
Solihull council chose to announce its new restrictions during the week of the innovative Grand Designs Live show, which was ironically held at the National Exhibition Centre in Solihull.
The new restrictions mean that anyone wanting to create a self-commissioned home in the borough could well struggle to join the register – an essential demand tool for the council and one that is set out in legislation.
Restrictions are allowed under the legislation, which can entail a local connection test, a financial viability test and the right to charge people, both to join and remain on the registers.
For anyone keen on building locally, Solihull Council now requires people to demonstrate a local connection to qualify for joining Part 1 – the element they must consider when considering their wider housing duties. Those without this link will join Part 2, which has no impact on council activity.
It also places a financial test on anyone wishing to join, which NaCSBA considers the worst of the tests imposed by the council. This states:
There will also be an assessment of financial resources. The Council will require relevant evidence of sufficient resources as follows:
NaCSBA reports that the tests are impossible to pass.
In addition, the council’s guidance references the Council of Mortgage Lenders – an organisation that ceased to exist five years ago.
Kevin McCloud designer and presenter of Grand Designs stated: “At a time when we need a greater focus on sustainability and more affordable homes, it is beyond belief that any Council is making it impossible for such homes to be delivered.”
Andrew Baddeley-Chappell CEO of the National Custom & Self Build Association stated: “I have no doubt that these changes being introduced by the Council are contrary to the letter and spirit of laws aimed at helping people to build or commission their own home, known as the Right to Build. The Council needs to reverse these changes and understand how it got into such a mess in the first place.”
The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 as amended by the Housing & Planning Act 2016 is primary legislation. It states: “This is intended to make it much easier for people to find land to build or commission their own home, diversifying housing supply and revitalising smaller builders who have not experienced the same level of recovery as the large housebuilders since the financial crisis.”
The legislation requires all local authorities in England to establish a Register of all those who wish to self-build and to then ensure that sufficient plots come forward to meet the demand.
The legislation allows for three restrictions to be imposed on joining the Registers, but there are tests that need to be met for this to happen. As was intended, very few Councils (7% at 30 October 2021) impose all of these tests. Approaching 6 years after the legislation was introduced, Solihull is choosing to introduce all 3 restrictions. Furthermore, the way it is imposing some of these restrictions makes it impossible for anyone to meet the tests and so benefit from the legislation.
The reason for introducing these restrictions is clear. The Council is seeking an easy way of getting out of the duty that the legislation places on it. As at 30 October 2021 (the last date for which data is available), the Council had a shortfall in delivery of 247 plots, and this number was continuing to increase.
NaCSBA is highly critical of the policy, which it links to other ill-conceived examples of discredited polices, such as Epping Forest District Council.
The action by the Council is directly contrary to the message from central Government that continues to support the growth of the sector. Just this year the Government responded positively to the independent review on growing the sector (The Bacon Review) and launched Help to Build enabling access to the market to those with a 5% deposit. As stated in commissioning the review: “We know that self and custom builders deliver high quality, well designed homes that are energy efficient, accessible affordable and welcomed by their communities.”
Image: On stage at Grand Designs debating the Right to Build – (L-R) NaCSBA CEO Andrew Baddeley-Chappell, Richard Bacon MP, Kevin McCloud, Kunle Barker, TV personality and Mario Wolf of Custom Build Homes.
NaCSBA member Advanced Housing Systems has come up with what they think might be a first for the self build sector, with a pick-your-own timber service, from Will Benzies’ mature Douglas fir forest in Devon – all local to the company.
Advanced Housing Systems states that buyers can wonder through the forest to chose those perfect trees for their own build, which forester Benzies will then fell and process to create the raw materials for a greenwood post and beam frame, creating a home with a very personal touch. The frame is infilled with Advanced Housing’s panels, which can be integrated with its range of our systems, including its THEPASSIVHAUS PHI certified models.
Advanced launched its THEPASSIVHAUS system in 2021, bringing a passivhaus certified total envelope system to the market. On review, the Passivhaus Institute at Darmstadt system stated that it found it to be ‘the most comprehensive system’ it had assessed to date.
Self builders won’t be the guinea pig for this new service, as Advanced Housing Systems has chosen its own timbers to build its own new facility using this process, which it believes brings together the embodied carbon and the operational carbon figures, which, when combined with passivhaus technology, will create a super green build.
The company works to create Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) systems for both self builders and commercial developments alike, offering a customisable envelope for both the sub- and superstructure. To make life easier, the system can be delivered with joinery and electrical systems in place, that are ready to skim plaster internally and clad externally, saving work time on site.
Green wood is effectively fresh wood that has not been kiln dried. This type of timber is cut from the forest and used for construction immediately, with no need for seasoning, and is a traditional approach to construction that has been used throughout time. Often, pegs and holes join the frame together, and as the frame dries out naturally these joints tighten and become super strong. Oak is the wood typically associated with building with greenwood, but many woods such as Douglas Fir or cedar can be used – but this often depends on what is available locally.
