Search for a suitable self-build or custom housebuilding plot
There are a number of ways to find a self or custom housebuilding plot. You can look at:
- Local and online estate agents. Some plots of land are often advertised as suitable for self-build
- Specialist online self-build plot finders
- Specialist self and custom build developers
- Our published weekly lists of planning decisions You may want to contact the applicant to see whether a site for planning permissions will be marketed for sale
- Neighbourhood plans for the parish areas you are interested in to see if they have any sites allocated for self and custom build or give general support to it in their policies. You can see which Neighbourhood Development Plans include policies on self and custom build in Appendix 1 of the self build monitoring report
- Contacting Community Land Trusts and Community Led Housing projects about the possibility of a group self-build
If you are registered on the Self-build and custom housebuilding register we will also inform you of relevant information and opportunities which may be of interest to you.
Financing a self-build project
The government wants more people to be able to build their own home and has set up the ‘Help to Build’ scheme. Help to Build is a new government equity loan that will be available to people in England who want to custom build or self build their own home.
You may also like to consider becoming involved with a group such as a community land trust or a local community led housing scheme.
Planning permission and building control approval for build your own home
Any proposals for self-build or custom housebuilding will require planning permission and building control approval in the same way as other housing and will be subject to all relevant planning policies. Visit our pre-application planning advice service which we encourage you to use if you would like to discuss your self-build or custom housebuilding proposal with us.
Local plan and neighbourhood development plan policies on self or custom build
The Herefordshire Core Strategy was written before the Self and Custom Build legislation came into effect. There are references to self and custom build in the text but no policies on it. We will be updating the local plan and we will include policies on self and custom build in that. In terms of deciding planning applications, Government Guidance states that the self and custom build registers are likely to be material consideration in decisions involving proposals for self and custom housebuilding. That is particularly the case if the demand on the register is not met through the granting of planning permissions.
Some Neighbourhood plans include policies about self and custom build. Some of these are general policies that support this type of housing development whilst some refer to specific locations for self and custom build housing.