Major housebuilders in need of help to deliver new requirements on self-build homes on HCA-backed schemes could benefit from a new database designed to link them up with specialist self-build developers and consultants.
The HCA is in the process of releasing large areas of land for housing development, a percentage of which bidders must allocate to self-build or custom-build properties.
The online matchmaking database, developed by the National Self Build Association (NaSBA), features a list of 24 HCA-approved specialist self-build developers and self-build enabling consultants with the skills needed to help housebuilders get schemes off the ground, or prepare sites for development.
Ted Stevens, chair of NaSBA told CM: “On a 200-home scheme the self-build requirement is typically 10% and the reaction from some large housebuilders has been: ‘how the hell do we find someone to sort this out?’ We approached the HCA with the idea of setting up a database of smaller developers that specialise in self-build to whom housebuilders can go to either form a joint venture or offload the work directly.”
The HCA has earmarked eight sites for self-build across the UK, most of which have now been sold to developers. At Carr Lodge, Doncaster, Keepmoat has been selected by the HCA to build 30 custom build homes. A site at Pleasley Colliery, Bolsover, has the potential for 23 homes, and it is anticipated that 11 homes will be brought forward for custom build.
Barratt Homes will provide 10 custom build opportunities as part of the redevelopment of Milford Hospital in Godalming and a Community Land Trust in Bristol is now on site at Kingsweir and Torpoint with a 12-home project.
“A housebuilder like Barratt Homes will be aiming to allocate homes to a self-build developer who will put in roads, fences and services, then sell the plots off to individual self-builders, whilst making sure properties are built to the correct design codes. Our database will help them do it,” added Stevens.
The enabling consultants on the database can connect housebuilders with a local group or community organisation that wants to deliver some self build homes, he said: “Rather than sell off plots individually to self-builders, a developer might want to plan a community-based project, which will earn more brownie points with the HCA and perhaps garner more funding. A consultant can connect them to community groups and self-builders to get things started.”
Meanwhile, self-build received another boost from the government this week when communities minister Don Foster announced a range of measures designed to encourage take-up.
Speaking at this week’s Lib Dem party conference in Glasgow, Foster announced proposals intended to double the number of self-build properties from almost 11,000 in 2012/13 to 22,000 by 2023.
The plans include a pledge to introduce new planning guidance obliging councils to establish demand for self-build in their areas, which would include maintaining a list of people who want to build their own home and who will be prioritised when new brownfield sites become available.
The incentive package includes £65m for community self-build and community-led affordable housing schemes, funded from the £10bn affordable homes guarantees programme launched earlier this year and run by the HCA.
The move comes after the government set aside £30m through the Custom Built Investment Fund launched last year, to help self-build schemes.
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