Andrew Baddeley-Chappell, CEO of the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) warmly welcomes the launch of the £150 million Help to Build scheme that will support more people to access an owner commissioned home. This new fund is part of a larger Action Plan aimed at supporting a boost in custom and self build delivery. It includes:
- A Prime Minister-commissioned review to establish a plan to scale up self and custom build homes
- A review of the Right to Build legislation to improve how it is applied in practice
- A Self and Custom Build Land Release Fund for local authorities to bring forward plots on land they own
- Funding for the Right to Build Task Force (righttobuild.org.uk) so it can continue to work with English local authorities to advise around delivery and policy
Government has also allocated £2.1 million additional funding to help communities decide where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built and what they should look like, as part of the announcement.
Baddeley-Chappell said: “The Action Plan represents the single most important announcement for the custom and self build sector since the establishment of NaCSBA over 10 years ago. For too long England has been out of line with the rest of the world with regards to the lack of consumer choice in our new homes market. The consequences of this have become all too clear, as has the need for change. This Action Plan will ensure an environment exists in England that delivers more and better homes.
“Our focus now is ensuring that the public sees this as a natural approach to getting a new home that meets their aspirations and needs. As a sector, we need to do more to build the business capacity and structures that underpin the choice that exists elsewhere. Finally, we need councils to do their bit to ensure the plots that are needed are permissioned, so that these homes can be built.”
