A recent report by an MP may make all the difference in getting a clear voice on the subject of self-build heard in the halls of Westminster. With the ongoing housing crisis in the UK and the simple fact that not enough houses are being built to meet demand, the Bacon Review hopes its recommendations will galvanise opinion and move the self-build sector into increased activity. This could deliver between 30,000 and 40,000 self-build homes annually.
Creative overdrive
MP Richard Bacon is keen to raise the profile of custom and self-building, focusing on efficiency and attractiveness. Earlier this year, the prime minister asked him to undertake a review of the current state of play of self-build, and to make a series of recommendations on his findings. The 114-page review has now been completed and published, and it makes encouraging reading, both for anyone looking at embarking on a self-build project and self-build specialists, such as ourselves. It addresses a wide range of subjects and looks at how self-build can be promoted as a viable option for anyone to undertake.
The report, called House: How Putting Customers in Charge Can Change Everything, notes that ‘Instead of beauty and a natural order, we see a sterile sameness almost everywhere we look…We are failing to create the listed buildings of tomorrow.’
While houses are being built by developers to meet the current huge demand, it is at the cost of the distinctiveness that a self-build scheme brings to the appearance of a completely new construction project.
The review lays out six main recommendations for growing and strengthening the self-build sector, which would make it much simpler and more straightforward for people to build their own homes, in their own style, in their own way.
Recommendations for self-building
In his review, Bacon makes six key recommendations, which map out a clear way forward for the sector.
Greater role for Homes England
The report recommends a new ‘Custom and Self-Build Housing Delivery Unit’ to be formed within Homes England, to enable the creation of serviced building plots on small and large sites. It will also support the delivery of custom and self-build housing at greater volume across the country.
Raise Awareness of the Right to Build
The Government, working through Homes England and in partnership with the custom and self-build industry, should create a custom and self-build housing ‘Show Park’. It should also strengthen existing legislation, to ensure the wider publicity of ‘Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Registers’, and the sharing of key data between landowners and people on these registers.
Support Community-Led Housing, Diversity of Supply and Levelling Up
The successful Community Housing Fund should be reactivated. This will create accessible opportunities for communities to help themselves, by introducing a Self-Help Housing Programme and introduce a ‘Plot to Rent’ scheme.
Promote Greener homes and more use of advanced manufacturing
The trailblazing role of custom and self-builders should be recognised for its use of advanced manufacturing and its ongoing investment in greener homes, to accelerate the delivery of the government’s ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ and ‘Net Zero Housing’ ambitions.
Support Custom and Self-build housebuilding through the Planning Reforms
Any future planning reforms should ensure that they maximise opportunities for access to permissioned land. This should include making focused changes to the ‘Right to Build’ legislation, so it achieves its objectives.
Iron out any tax creases for building houses
The government should investigate any possible tax disadvantages between self-building and other forms of house construction and identify specific actions to eradicate them.
Here at CB Homes, we welcome these recommendations. We are pleased that finally a spotlight is being shone on a sector of the construction industry that is often neglected. We hope that the government can now implement these recommendations in a way that works for everyone, so they can make a real and lasting difference to the custom and self-build sector. This will deliver both confidence in the industry and more diverse houses for people to live in.
Interested in self-building and not sure where to start? We have lots of useful resources on our website with loads of information on everything you need to know. Get in touch to find out how we can help with our fixed fee turn key self-build package.
