Talkin’ bout a self-build revolution
Self-building your dream home could be an “affordable option”, thanks to the government’s action plan to encourage more people to get building.
Described as a “self-build revolution”, the government has announced £150 million in funding to make it easier for people to build their own homes or have them made to order.
With finance being one of the biggest barriers to self and custom building, the Help to Build scheme is welcome news with the promise of interest-free loans to help you build from scratch, or buy a custom build home made to order, with a deposit of five per cent.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Building your own home shouldn’t be the preserve of a small number of people, but a mainstream, realistic and affordable option for people across the country.
“That’s why we are making it easier and more affordable – backed by over £150 million new funding from the government.
“Our plans will help get more people on to the housing ladder, ensure homes suit people’s needs like home working or caring for relatives, whilst providing an important boost to small builders and businesses too.”
The recent launch of the Self and Custom build action plan sets out government measures to support the sector.
This includes the next steps in the review of the Right to Build legislation, to assess whether further reforms are needed and confirmation of further funding for the Right to Build Task Force which will help local authorities, community groups and other organisations help deliver self and custom build housing projects across the UK.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also commissioning Richard Bacon MP to lead a review on how to scale up the delivery of self and custom build homes. In a letter to Bacon, Johnson wrote: “We know that self and custom builders deliver high quality, well-designed homes that are energy efficient, accessible, affordable, and welcomed by their communities.
“The place for self and custom building has also been amplified by coronavirus. As we build back better and emerge from the pandemic, we need to push ahead with expanding access to opportunities in this market for more people.”
Are you a first-time self builder looking for support? Find more information on our dedicated self-build website, which features a range of inspirational content to help self-builders to plan, design and build the best, most comfortable, high-performing and inspiring homes.
