Government Right to Build Taskforce launches

The Right to Build Expert Taskforce, which is funded by the Nationwide Foundation, will help  organisations across the UK deliver large, affordable custom and self-build housing projects as well as offering advice for other projects through the Right to Build portal.

Richard Bacon MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Self Build, Custom and Community Housebuilding and Placemaking, said the taskforce would help local authorities ‘harness their powers’ to make custom and self-build housing mainstream.

He said: “This may be councils needing help setting up, or better marketing of their demand registers, or advice in creating planning strategies. Alternatively, it could also include affordable housing providers or community groups who are needing help to engage with councils. I am confident the Taskforce will deliver real change and I am delighted to become its ambassador.”

According to the National Custom & Self Build Association, local authorities in England have a duty to grant planning permissions for 18,000 serviced plots by 31 October 2019.

Chair Michael Holmes said: “This is only the tip of the iceberg with people registering on the new English demand registers on a daily basis. There is also huge untapped potential in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”

In its Housing White Paper, published last week, the government vowed to make life easier for custom builders who want to create their own homes.