I am involved with the development of a Neighbourhood Plan for a Parish in SW Devon. Our plan intends to promote Self/Custom builds as we believe that these homes are normally built to a better design with pride and attention to detail and encourages diversity of build. However, when I contacted the Strategic Planning department to gather evidence to support this, I was advised that since the introduction of the Self and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015, where Local Planning Authorities are required to keep a register of people interested in building their own home, they have received just 16 expressions of interest. I doubt very much that this reflects the real level of interest, but instead reflects the lack of public awareness around the new duties of Local authorities. Without this evidence we are advised we cannot include any stipulations within the NP such as a certain percentage of plots to be made available. I have just been advised that Cornwall, on the other hand, have received 118 expressions of interest. In the absence of official figures can anybody steer me to a source of information that would provide evidence of demand for plots in the SW Devon / SE Cornwall area?