The UK housing minister has given the green light to a number of sites across the country that will be dedicated to self-built homes.
Grant Shapps has announced plans for the UK’s very first self-building communities. Seven areas have been earmarked and the aim is to double the size of the self-build construction sector.
A total £30 million has been made available by the government in funding to provide short-term loans to builders and community groups looking to start their own self-build projects. If you plan on building five or more homes at a total cost of up to £3 million, the money can be used to pay 75% of the early construction costs and land.
The move has been backed by Kevin McCloud, the Grand Designs presenter, who was appointed the industry’s champion by the National Self Build Association. It is reported that Britain has fallen behind its European counterparts, with only 10% of homes built each year being self-build projects.
The seven sites that have been identified for people looking to build their own homes include;
- Trevenson Park, Pool in Cornwall
- Kingsweir and Torpoint, in Bristol
- Spencers Park, in Hemel Hempstead
- Pleasley Colliery, Bolsover Upper Tuesley Milford, in Surrey
- Wilson Road, in Hanford, Stoke-on-Trent
- Chase Avenue, Walton Park, Milton Keynes
These will create hundreds of new self-build opportunities across the country but Mr Shapps has also asked the Homes and Communities Agency to continue searching for more prospective sites.
A recent trip to the Netherlands has given the government guidance and assistance in terms of the self-build industry. Almere, near Amsterdam, is Europe’s largest low-cost self-build project and it has proved extremely successful in recent years so lessons can be learnt from the Dutch.
So take advantage of the short-term finance scheme and consider flat pack homes, they are much cheaper to build and energy efficient!