Self-build and custom housebuilding register

We have to keep a register to find out demand for serviced plots of land in the council's area. We use the information to guide local policy on self-build homes and help potential self-builders to find suitable plots.

If you are on the register, you will be given priority when self-build or custom-build plots are made available. 

If you register, it doesn't guarantee that a suitable plot will be identified or become available. We do not offer assistance to individual self-build or custom housebuilders to identify or secure plots.

You can apply to join the self-build and custom housebuilding register using the online form below.

Apply to join the register

Eligibility

To join the self-build and custom housebuilding register, you need to meet all the following criteria. These apply to individuals or each individual in an association that is looking to take on a project.

• You are aged 18 or over.
• You are a British citizen, a national of an EEA State other than the United Kingdom, or a national of Switzerland.

If you also meet one or more of the local connection test  criteria below, you will be eligible to join Part 1 of the register. If you do not meet the local connection test, but meet the two criteria above, you will be entered into Part 2 of the register.

Those on Part 1 of the register will be given first priority if new self-build or custom-build plots are made available through the council.

Government guidance on self-build and custom housebuilding is available on the GOV.UK website.

Local connection test

To meet the local connection test, you need to meet one of the following criteria.

• You are in full-time service of the regular armed forces of the Crown, or have served full-time in the armed forces of the Crown for at least two years within the last four years.
• You have been resident in the district for a continuous period of two years at the time of application, or have resided in the district area for a period of ten years or more in the past.
• You or your partner has a parent, sibling or adult child who has been resident in the district for a continuous period of two years at the time of application, and is still resident in the district when a self-build plot is offered.
• You or your partner has worked in, or based a business in, the district for a continuous period of two years full-time equivalent at the time of application, and is still doing so at the point in time a self-build plot is offered. The period may be proportionately longer if working part-time, calculated pro rata with 'full time' defined as 30 hours per week.
• The two-year employment duration requirement will be waived for key workers currently in permanent full-time employment in the public or charitable sectors to provide an essential public service at a location within the district.

Monitoring information

We have a duty to grant sufficient development permissions to meet the demand for self-build and custom housebuilding in our area, as shown in our self-build and custom housebuilding register.

The report below sets out information on the demand for self-build and custom housebuilding in the district, and how we are meeting this duty. A web version of the report can be found here.

Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Progress Report - December 2020 [254.02KB]