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Development Policies

6. Self & Custom-Build Housing

6.1 A self-build project is defined as one where the occupier is directly involved in the design and construction process. The self-builder need not physically construct the house but can arrange a contractor to carry out the work. A custom build project is one where the occupier works with a specialist developer to deliver the home.

6.2 The Government is committed to delivering Custom and Self-Build housing. In the 2017 Housing White Paper, the Government reaffirmed their commitment to unlock the growth potential of this sector and double the number of Custom and Self-Build homes by 2020.

6.3 Since April 2016, local authorities have been required to hold a register of people who want to acquire serviced plots of land in their area for Custom and Self-Build housebuilding. The Government has subsequently brought forward further legislation requiring local authorities to make sufficient suitable land available for self and custom build housing to meet the demand on their register within three years.

6.4 Self-build provides the opportunity to introduce another form of more affordable housing for local people in the rural parts of the district.

6.5 Monitoring of small sites indicates there are a significant number of self/custom build projects in Mendip, particularly involving replacement dwellings or conversions of rural buildings. However, these are generally plots or development opportunities which are not affordable to households on the self-build register. Opportunities to use the Council’s own land are limited. There is no general exception policy to permit self-build dwellings in open countryside. The Council will support self-builders through:

  1. Encouraging proposals on allocated and windfall sites to include custom-build properties or serviced plots;
  2. Allocation of site FR7 in Frome for self-build;
  3. The identification of specific sites for plots through the Local Plan Review and a call for sites;
  4. The introduction of an additional affordable housing policy (DP24) to encourage self-build homes for local people in housing need in rural parts of the district.

6.6 The purpose of DP24 is to meet a specific need to deliver rural affordable housing for those that cannot otherwise afford to live in areas where they have a strong local connection. Self-build provides a mechanism for applicants to build their own affordable home. In common with LPP1 Policy DP12: Rural Exception Sites, the homes will be secured at a discount in perpetuity, but DP24 sites will be for home ownership rather than rent.

6.7 Supplementary guidance to support the implementation of Policy DP24 will be prepared by the Council in due course.

Policy DP24: Single-plot Exception Sites for Self & Custom-Build

As an exception to normal policy for the provision of housing set out in Core Polices 1 and 2, permission may be granted for single affordable self-build and custom build dwellings in locations adjoining rural settlements where the following criteria are met:

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Council that they are in housing need and are unable to identify or afford a suitable alternative home currently available for sale on the open market in the local area or within 5km of the proposed site (excluding major settlements).  Applicants must also demonstrate a strong local connection to the settlement.

Housing need is demonstrated where the household unit has no independent home of its own, or is renting and would like to become an owner-occupier, or occupies accommodation deemed by the Council to be unsuitable for either their current or reasonably foreseeable future needs for some other reason.

Location:

  • Exception sites must be demonstrably part of, or adjacent to, a recognisable named settlement.  It does not apply to the main towns.  Sites that do not lie in a settlement, constituting isolated or sporadic development, or which would adversely affect an AONB, landscape character, local historic or rural character (for example due to an elevated, exposed or other prominent position) are not considered acceptable.

Design and Scale:

  • The dwelling size will not normally be permitted to exceed 140 square metre gross internal floor space or occupy a plot of more than 0.1ha.
  • Development must be in harmony with the character of the area, of a suitable design which is appropriate to its location.

Future Occupation
To ensure community benefit going forward, appropriate mechanisms must be in place to ensure dwellings remain affordable in perpetuity.

All sites will be assessed on an individual basis and be subject to the same considerations as other developments with regard to access, sustainable design, ecological networks, greenbelt and mitigation for effects on protected sites – including phosphates etc.


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