Getting It Built! 6 November 2013 Ted Stevens Chairman

1. Getting It Built! 6 November 2013 Ted Stevens Chairman

2. My talk will cover these headings Using the planning system to get land allocated Some Tips onfinding land yourself Where you can get help and information Some case studies

3. The New Self Build Policy Three key documents have transformed the landscape:

4. The New Self Build Policy Self Build now features in the National Planning Policy Framework – e.g. para.159 Local authorities now have a duty to assess local demand from people who want to build their own home, then cater for that demand They are also encouraged to use self build as a way of helping to deliver sustainable, affordable housing s

5. Before the changes to the NPPF and the new sections in the Government’s Housing Strategy To To the Planning Ball Self Build Cinders

6. I didn’t realise how wonderful you are! Now the planning system is beginning to help us A story with a Happy Ending?

7. So what can you do? Challenge your council as it prepares or updates its Plan Demonstrate there is lots of local demand Explore Neighbourhood Planning, CRtB etc Lobby hard – if you don’t make a noise you will be ignored

8. From your desk What else can you do to find a site? Search the obvious websites – Rightmove, Zoopla Subscribe to the specialist websites –Plotsearh, PlotBrowser, Plotfinder Check out the HCA’s land holdings (and other Government land owners, GLA, county councils etc) Enquire about projects that have already got planning permission, but have not been built

9. From your desk What else can you do to find a site? Make sure you plant your free noticeboard on the ‘Need-a-Plot’ section of the Self Build Portal

10. From your desk What else can you do to find a site? Monitor the key Auction sites – Allsops, Countrywide, UK Auction List etc Explore some of the ‘fringe’ organisations – The Land Registry, Empty Homes, Ecological Land Co-operative, Repossessed Houses Register Use Facebook – ask your families and friends! Watch out for property scam sites – often offering cheap land in the Green Belt k

11. What else can you do to find a site? Get a very high scale OS map and then go exploring Use Google Earth and the Land Registry in the same way Leaflet target areas; put up notices in shops Hit the local estate agents, architects and planning consultants and offer a finders fee On the ground

12. What else can you do to find a site? On the ground

13. Where can you get help and information? Self Build Portal NaSBA Homes and Communities Agency – Custom Build CommunityBuild.org.uk

15. Some case studies

16. Findhorn Scotland: 44 homes built over 30 years Most of the new homes built on their own – all very green Recent project resulted in a terrace of three eco-homes being constructed together One of the earliest self build communities in the UK – won top award from the United Nations

17. Hockerton, Nottinghamshire Five families built an earth sheltered terrace Very green; off-grid The families worked collectively to build the shells, then finished their own homes Worked out at around £90k per home in 1998 Seven new homes about to start

18. Bristol CLT Council sold former school site to CLT for £1 Six one bed homes in the former school building; 6 two and three bed ‘self finish’ houses in the grounds One bed flats (60%) cost £57k; three bed homes £108k. Also looking at converting redundant office into 20 ‘self finish’ apartments

19. Whatcotts Yard, Hackney Three families built a terrace on a tight ‘backland’ site The families worked in an informal manner to buy the site and build their homes. Each home has a different interior layout

20. Springdale Garden, Hackney Eight homes on a tight former industrial ‘backland’ site The families are building common facilities to save space

21. Lancaster Cohousing: 41 zero carbon homes have been built, plus communal facilities like guest bedrooms, play room and workshops Recently completed The homes cost £110-302k each Builder constructed the whole lot to a design everyone had a say in

22. LILAC, Leeds 20 homes recently completed on former school site 3 miles NW of city centre Committed to making homes as green as possible (straw bale construction system) Mutual Home Ownership ensures rents are fair and makes ownership affordable

23. St Just in Roseland, Cornwall: Six homes built in 2011-12 by locals with connection to the building trade Land purchased from farmer by Parish Council and put into a Community Land Trust – so homes remain affordable Three bed stone clad cottages built for £60k each (plus significant fees on professionals!) One of the best Community Self Build projects to date

24. Gawber, Yorkshire: 23 plots offering a range of three and four bedroom properties All have been pre-sold and there is now a waiting list of 200 for future developments Just started on site, first homes should be completed in early 2014. Homes from £110-130k Secured support from the Custom Build Investment Fund Need additional site pic

25. Urban Pioneers, Middlesbrough: Local council and HCA promoting a competition to attract creative ideas for homes/workspaces Land may be available on a ‘Build Now – Pay later’ basis Seen as a way of encouraging regeneration Potential for about 50 homes

27. Getting It Built! 6 November 2013 Ted Stevens Chairman