Councillor John O’Neill (Lib Dem) is Cabinet Member for Adults and Homes at South Gloucestershire Council.
As housing challenges continue to grow, we’ve embraced self-build and custom-built (SCB) housing as essential solutions to meet the varied needs of residents.
Through dedicated policies and strategic initiatives, we have positioned ourselves as a leader in promoting self-build opportunities.
Our commitment to self and custom-build housing began in 2013, with the establishment of a Self-Build Task and Finish Group to investigate how the council could encourage self-build housing, fund projects, and provide residents with more housing options.
Since then, we’ve focused on self-build through several key initiatives.
In 2017, we created the role of a self-build officer to actively manage SCB plots, engage with developers, and guide individuals through the process.
Policy PSP42 was introduced, requiring that 5 per cent of plots in developments of 100 or more homes be allocated for SCB. This ensures self-build projects are integrated into larger developments, with plot sizes set at 108 square metres (gross internal area) to control costs and make them affordable.
In April 2021, our Custom and Self Build Supplementary Planning Document was adopted to guide the delivery of high-quality SCB homes in larger developments. We launched our Self-Build Partnership to improve land availability and accelerate SCB plot delivery by collaborating with developers and self-build enablers. These efforts align with the council’s ambition of supporting housing diversification within the community.
There are several reasons for councils to support self and custom housebuilding.
SCB housing empowers residents to have a direct say in the design and construction of their homes, providing tailored solutions that standard housing developments often lack. This diversity in housing options also supports small and medium-sized businesses in the construction sector.
Supporting SCB aligns with the council’s values of sustainability, community engagement, and economic growth.
By providing serviced plots, the council enables self-builders to create homes suited to their needs, while boosting the local economy.
Developments in South Gloucestershire, such as Charfield Gardens and Blackberry Park, demonstrate how self-build can create vibrant, sustainable communities, particularly benefiting first-time buyers, low and middle-income groups, and downsizers.
Our experience provides valuable insights for other councils interested in promoting SCB housebuilding.
One important lesson is establishing a dedicated officer/team to oversee self-build projects. This approach is crucial for the success of SCB initiatives. Councils should also consider policies such as PSP42, which mandates that a percentage of plots in large developments be reserved for SCB.
Another strategy is forming partnerships with developers and self-build enablers, to facilitate SCB plot delivery while reducing developers’ financial risks.
Councils should use information from their self and custom-build register to assess demand.
The Right to Build Task Force, a dedicated resource offering guidance workshops and peer reviews, has been instrumental in our success, and could benefit other councils as well.
To conclude, self and custom-build housing has significant benefits for communities, offering flexible, sustainable, and personalised housing options.
For councils prepared to embrace this approach, the Right to Build Task Force can offer expert advice, resources, and hands-on support.
We encourage other local authorities to consider making SCB a core part of their housing strategy. Together, we can empower individuals to build the home of their dreams.
- The LGA’s virtual event, ‘Delivering self and custom-build homes: the council perspective’, takes place on 30 October. To find out more about the Right to Build Task Force, please visit Right to Build website. See LGA first comment for an additional case study from Fareham Borough Council.
