New Right to Build

The government is consulting on a Right to Build scheme to make it easier for self-builders to access plots.

Announced today as part of Chancellor George Osborne’s budget, the scheme would give people interested in building their own home the right to challenge local authorities that aren’t providing land or opportunities for self-builders and custom home developments.

This is just one of a number of measures mooted in this year’s budget that, altogether, represent the government’s most radical package of support for the self-build sector. The proposals also include:

• A £150 million loan fund that could unlock 10,000 new serviced plots for custom build in the next few years
• Investigating whether the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme could encompass self-builders
• Confirmation of plans to establish a new garden city at Ebbsfleet. This will initially provide 15,000 homes – some of which will be available as custom build schemes

The package comes hot on the heels of the government’s decision to exempt self-builders from the Community Infrastructure Levy development tax.

We’ll keep you updated on progress with all of these proposals via our regularly-updated self-build news pages