Mayor Attends Downing Street Self-Build Housing Summit and Launches Borough's Own Register

Mayor Dave Hodgson yesterday attended a Self-Build housing summit at 10 Downing Street, and announced the launch of Bedford Borough's Custom and Self-Build Housing Register. The Council is asking residents who might wish to pursue a Custom or self-build housing project to sign up to the new register.

Creating a register of people interested in custom and self-build will enable the Council to find out more about the demand for custom & self-build housing in Bedford Borough so that it can develop local policies aimed at making land available.

It will also enable the Council to update interested individuals about emerging schemes or opportunities for self-build or custom-build housing in the Borough, while allowing it to help match up landowners or promoters of self-build projects with individuals keen to pursue self-build. In addition, the register will be a useful source of local information for companies or private landowners contemplating launching a scheme.

Mayor Dave was amongst those invited to the Self-Build and Custom Housing Summit at 10 Downing Street, which was intended to promote increased opportunities for people to self-build and custom housing projects. Housing minister Brandon Lewis MP was in attendance, along with Kevin McCloud of Channel's Four's 'Grand Designs.'

Commenting, Mayor Dave said: "House building figures have obviously been very strong in the Borough in recent years, and we want to continue to help to meet the housing needs of local people. That's why I'm delighted to announce the launch of the Council's Custom and Self Build Register. At a time of great housing need it is important that we support people seeking to create new homes themselves.'

"For many people, self-build probably bring to mind Grand Designs, but our priority will be to help people for whom Self and Custom Build enables them to afford a home when they would not otherwise be able to."

Custom and self-build includes people commissioning all or part of the work from a contractor. There is therefore real potential for growth of this form of housing to support local businesses. Only about 1 in 10 Custom and Self Build Homes are DIY built.

Nationally custom and self-build delivers 10-12,000 homes per year - as much as some of the large house builders. There is the potential for many more homes to be delivered in this way.

Custom and Self Build Homes are often cheaper, greener, more affordable and more innovatively designed than standard market housing and they offer a real alternative to buying 'off the peg' houses that may not meet your household's needs.

A tool-kit has now been produced by the National Custom & Self Build Association to help people thinking of developing a project or wanting to support a project.

A new page has been created on the Council's website for those who wish to express an interest in Custom/Self-Build in the Borough. If you want to sign up to the Custom and Self-Build Register, you can now do so by going to the Council's website and completing the "Custom/Self-Build Expression of Interest Form" available here:

www.bedford.gov.uk/housing/self_and_custom_build_housing.aspx