Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Guide

Self-build and Custom Housebuilding (SBCH) covers a wide spectrum; from projects where individuals are involved in building or managing the construction of their home from beginning to end. To projects where individuals commission construction of their home, making key design and layout decisions, but the home is built ready for occupation.

The following guidance provides information on self-build and custom housebuilding in relation to the varying options, legislation, and registration process.

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Self-build and custom housebuilding options

Although not defined within the legislation, a distinction between custom and self-build is set out as follows:

  • A self-build home is typically one built to the plans or specifications of the occupant on a single plot.
  • A custom build home is built to the plans or specifications of the occupant on a multi plot site which is actively managed by a third-party enabler.

A ‘serviced plot of land’ is a plot of land that has access to a public highway and has connections for electricity, water and waste water.

Self build homes

Self-build involves the occupier of a new home taking responsibility for the design, construction and funding of the home on a single building plot. The plot may or may not have some form of planning permission on purchase. The individual bears the associated financial costs of securing the plot and procuring the construction, inclusive of infrastructure and servicing requirements.

Self-builders are in control of their development timeline and are not bound by any requirement to act in a given way to satisfy the needs of a developer, contractor, landowner or specialist enabler. With the exception of any statutory requirements imposed by a mortgage lender, insurer or local planning authority.

Custom build homes

Custom build involves the development of a multi-plot site. Custom build involves the occupier of a new home commissioning or building their new custom home through a range of housing delivery models facilitated and/or supported by a landowner, developer, contractor, or enabler.

This commitment typically requires the occupier to act within defined parameters designed to manage house design and size as well as the timescale for construction. 

There are two main variants in the delivery of custom build homes: serviced plot model and customisable homes.

Serviced plot model

In this model, the occupier of a new home is given the opportunity to purchase a serviced plot of land with planning permission to construct a new home designed within a set of pre-agreed parameters. It's often facilitated by a Design Code, or similar design guide which manages the permissible house design, tenure, size and specification on each plot.

Customisable homes

The customisable homes model offers purchasers the opportunity to customise a new predesigned home. Customisable home sales often include the sale of a serviced plot with a separate but related design and build contract for the construction of a new home to a customised design. This is either to completion or to an agreed stage, enabling purchasers to self-finish their homes or move into a fully completed home.

Other options

SBCH is strongly associated with individual detached homes, however there are other possible approaches. A wide range of properties can be delivered as a custom build property, including high-rise, terraces and semi-detached homes, which can include community-led housing and affordable housing.

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Application to the Register

The register will provide us with an indication of the level of demand for self/custom housebuilding in the borough and it will help inform the development of planning and housing policy plus decision-making of planning applications.

An application for entry to the register does not necessarily guarantee inclusion on the register, and registration does not guarantee that a suitable plot of land will be identified or will become available for applicants.

We do not have an obligation to find land for each individual - it is for the individual or association to find suitable plot(s) of land for their custom or self-build project. Self-build and custom-build homes are subject to the same requirements for planning permission as other homes.

Who can apply

Applicants must meet all of the eligibility criteria for entry on the register. Each individual applicant and every member of an association that applies for entry on the register must:

  • be aged 18 or older
  • be a British citizen, a national of a EEA State other than the United Kingdom, or a national of Switzerland
  • be seeking (either alone or with others) to acquire a serviced plot of land in Trafford for their own self-build and custom housebuilding project

When applying to be entered on the register, individuals who wish to register as an association, such as a group of individuals, must appoint someone to act as the lead contact for the purposes of correspondence between the association and us.

Apply for entry to the Register

Determining application for entry on the Register

We will confirm in writing within 28 days whether the application is eligible for entry in the register. Where we believe an applicant is not eligible for entry in the register, we will notify the applicant and provide reasons.

Notification will be sent to the individual; or in the case of an association, the lead contact or such other person we consider to be acting on behalf of the association.

Requests to be removed from the Register

We will remove your details from the register within 28 days of receiving a written notification to do so from either an individual or the lead contact of an organisation.

We may remove an entry from the register if we consider that the individual or in the case of an association, any member of the association, is no longer eligible for entry in the register. Within 28 days of the decision, we will notify the registered individual or the lead contact for an organisation giving the reasons for our decision.

If you wish to be removed from the Register, contact us at strategic.planning@trafford.gov.uk

Reason for additional information

As part of the application we are asking applicants additional questions in relation to the sought self-build and custom housebuilding plots, such as preferred location and size.

The Trafford Local Plan is in its draft stages and therefore we consider that a more accurate picture of demand for self-build and custom housebuilding should be found out to ensure that we designate appropriate land for housing, specifically self-build and custom housebuilding. 

What happens to your information

The register will provide an indication of the demand for self-build and custom housebuilding in Trafford and will help the us inform the development of planning and housing policy.

At this stage, you are not making any commitment, rather we are trying to find out how much local demand there is for self-build and custom housing.

An application for entry to the register does not necessarily guarantee inclusion on the register. Registration does not guarantee that a suitable plot of land will be identified or will become available for applicants. Self-build and custom-build homes are subject to the same requirements for planning permission as other homes.

We will not pass identifiable information from the Register onto anyone outside the Council without your written consent.

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Legislation

Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register

Since 1 April 2016 the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended by the Housing and Planning Act 2016), requires us to keep a register of individuals and associations of individuals who wish to acquire ‘serviced plots of land’ to bring forward self-build and custom housebuilding projects.

The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 provides a legal definition of self-build and custom housebuilding. The Act does not distinguish between self-build and custom housebuilding. It provides that both are where:

  • an individual
  • an association of individuals
  • persons working with or for individuals or associations of individuals build or complete houses to be occupied as homes by those individuals.

Relevant legislation

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Duty to grant development permission

We need to ensure sufficient planning permissions for serviced plots of land have been granted to meet the demand established by the number of individuals and associations on the Register. The regulations establish a three year rolling period in which sufficient serviced plots must be granted permission. Each year from 31 October to 30 October is known as a ‘base period’.

‘Serviced plots of land’ means a plot of land that:

  • It has access to a public highway and has connections for electricity, water and waste water
  • Or can be provided with those things in specified circumstances or within a specified period
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Data protection

We want to be sure that you remain happy that we can hold your data for the purpose laid out above. Once we have received your completed form, your details will be entered and stored on the Trafford Council Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register.

If your details change or you wish to be removed from the register contact us at strategic.planning@trafford.gov.uk.

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