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Aspiring self-builders will have the chance to realise their ambitions thanks to 4 new sites which are being released by the Homes and Communities Agency, Kris Hopkins has announced.
The sites form part of a wider government programme to support the growth of the custom build housing sector and give more people the opportunity to build their own homes.
The Housing Minister said these new sites will form around 70 plots for new homes. This will add to the 130 plots which are being made available under a government commitment to free up land for those looking to build their own homes.
The custom build sector builds about 1 in 10 new homes in this country – yet this is fewer than many other European countries and there is substantial growth potential in this market with more people wanting to build their own home than ever before. The expansion of this sector presents a significant business opportunity for smaller house builders and provides jobs and work for local architects, builders and local suppliers.
Speaking to the Federation of Master Builders at a summit jointly organised with the National Self Build Association, Mr Hopkins urged smaller developers to seize the business opportunity presented by this untapped market, and offer custom build opportunities to the thousands of self-builders waiting to get their projects off the ground.
Mr Hopkins said: "We are determined to help aspiring self-builders up and down the country who want to build the home of their dreams but can’t find a plot to get started.
"That's why we've committed to lead the way by making our formerly-used public sector land available for self-builders, and why today we’re making 4 further sites available, taking the total to 12.
"We are seeing a new kind of house building model emerging in this country and I am pleased to see how positively the development industry and many councils are responding. With the self-build industry contributing some £4 billion annually to the UK economy, I want to encourage more builders to make the most of this business opportunity and offer custom build options on their sites."
(CD/MH)
