Government to review the Right to Build legislation

The government is launching a review into the Right to Build legislation which enables people to build their own homes, says the Housing Secretary.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP made the announcement on Right to Build Day on Friday.

Councils keep a register of those who wish to build in their local area, and by 30 October each year they should have granted planning permission to enough suitable plots to match the demand on the register. The government will examine how well these measures are working.

Jenrick said:

“We are backing people who want to design and build their own home and today I have launched a review to ensure councils provide enough land and take proper consideration for these homes when making planning decisions in their area.

“This will help more people get a foot on the housing ladder and support our building industry as we deliver the homes that this country needs.”

Jenrick also announced that the data councils collect on self and custom build in their area will now be published annually.

And the Housing Secretary has written to councils to ensure they consider the demand for these homes when providing land for building and making planning decisions in their area.

Andrew Baddeley-Chappell, chief executive of the National Custom & Self Build Association (NaCSBA), said:

“England has the lowest known rate of self-commissioned homes in the developed world.

“Our new homes market is crying out for the greener and higher quality build that goes hand-in-hand with more consumer choice. Housing diversification is key to the government’s housing strategy.

“This excellent announcement today by the government should help many more people achieve the dream of living in better and more beautiful homes.”

There are around 15,000 custom and self-build homes built every year, an increase of 50% in two years.

Richard Bacon MP, Ambassador for the Right to Build Task Force, said:

“For many years I have campaigned to increase real choices for the large number of people who want to build their own home or commission a home to their own design from a local SME builder.

“This led to my private member’s bill becoming the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act, which the government has subsequently strengthened.

“I warmly welcome the government’s review of the current law. Some local councils are already doing an excellent job in providing more opportunities, but some others are not yet supporting the spirit of the legislation and have some way to go if they are to grasp the huge opportunities for more and better housing which greater customer choice offers.

“We need to make sure every council is able to deliver on this important agenda which will help provide more high-quality homes.”

Kindly shared by Property Wire