Brandon Lewis, the housing and planning minister, has announced new plans that will support custom and self builders who want to build their own homes.

The new Right to Build across England proposal will task council's with helping anyone who wishes to build their own property with finding suitable land.

News on the plan comes at the same time as a government supported Private Member’s Bill on plans for a Right to Build register is being taken forward through Parliament by the MP for South Norfolk Richard Bacon.

Eleven areas are already pioneering the Right to Build scheme, developing a register of prospective custom builders in the area and matching them up to shovel ready sites.


A consultation on the proposal is seeking views from local planning authorities, the custom build sector and prospective custom builders about what they would like to see from the Right to Build. It looks at:

• the local demand for custom build

• meeting demand on the register with available land

• how the Right to Build will work within the existing planning framework

Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said: "Custom build should not be the preserve of a select few but a realistic opportunity for anyone who wants to build their own home and that’s why we’re supporting this Bill.

"Eleven areas are already leading the way on the Right to Build. And our plans for this Right across England will help more people turn their ambitions into reality and clear the way for a new generation of custom builders.

"This is just one of a range of measures we’re taking to help aspiring homeowners, and to get Britain building – and thanks to our efforts, house building levels are at their highest since 2007 and rising."

The closing date for responses to the consultation, which can be found here is 18 December 2014.

(MH/CD)