Introduction
Self-build or custom housebuilding means that an individual or group arranges for the construction of a new house. This can be done through a builder, contractor, package company, or by building the house themselves.
The government wants to enable more people to build or commission their own homes and make this a more mainstream housing option. Therefore, we want to find out how much interest there is in this approach to housing development across the area.
Update on register of interest
The Council maintains a register of those interested in self-build and custom housebuilding. We now have a single self-build and custom housebuilding register. Details on how to join can be found below.
We have written to everyone on the existing registers. This is to ask you to confirm that you are happy to be added to the new register or if you would like to be removed from the register.
What is Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding?
Self-build or custom housebuilding is typically where an individual or individuals commission the construction of a new house from a builder, contractor, package company or physically build a house for themselves. For the Council to consider whether a home is a self-build or custom build home, we must be satisfied that the initial owner of the home will have primary input into its final design and layout.
This form of housing can include individual or community projects, blocks of apartments or houses. Refurbishment projects involving the conversion or regeneration of disused buildings may also be considered as self-build or custom housebuilding. Self-build and custom-build are the two main types of bespoke housing though there are several models for these projects.
- Self-Build: This is when someone gets directly involved in, or manages, the construction of their new home (with or without the help of sub-contractors).
- Custom Build: This is when people commission the construction of their home from a developer, builder or package company. With ‘custom build’, the occupants usually do not do any of the major physical construction work but still make the key decisions on design and specifications.
- Self-finish: you buy a part-built home and fit out or finish off internal work yourself.
- Design-only: you design your home and get other trades to do everything else.
- Partnership projects: working with developers or like-minded individuals to purchase land and build your home.
These projects can be privately owned market housing or affordable rented or shared equity housing. Some models of shared ownership schemes use a ‘sweat equity’ system where a party’s contribution to a project is in the form of effort, as opposed to financial equity. In a rented custom-build scheme tenants could be involved in self-build or agreeing to ‘self-finish’ homes in return for reduced rents or other benefits.
The legal definition of self-build and custom housebuilding can be found in the self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 on GOV.UK.
Somerset Self Build and Custom Housebuilding Register Eligibility
In accordance with the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015, local authorities are required to maintain a register of individuals and group of individuals (association) who have expressed interest in seeking to acquire land to build a home.
To be on the register you will need to provide your name and address (and in the case of a group of individuals, the number of plots being sought). To be eligible for entry on the register, an individual or each member of an association must be:
- Aged 18 or over
- A British Citizen, a national of a state in the European Economic Area or Switzerland
- Seeking (alone or with others) to acquire a serviced plot of land to build a house to occupy as a sole or main residence
The Council has a duty to have regard to the register in developing planning policies and development plans. The self-build and custom housebuilding register provides information on demand for self-build and custom housebuilding in the local area and forms a key part of the evidence base of demand for this type of housing.
Somerset North (Sedgemoor) Local Connection Criteria
Please note that other than for sites well related to Tier 1 and 2 settlements (as identified by the Local Plan for Sedgemoor, now known as ‘Somerset North’), future occupants must be able to demonstrate an appropriate local connection to the settlement or Parish in which they wish to build.
For more information on settlements, please refer to Policy S2 (‘Spatial Strategy for Sedgemoor’) of the Local Plan.
You can find the location of settlement boundaries on the Policies Map
If you wish to build in a tier 3 or 4 settlement or build in a hamlet of 10 more dwellings anywhere, you need a local connection to that Parish. The Sedgemoor Self-build and Custom Build Homes Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) provides further information on the self-build policies, local connection criteria and other matters.
If you would like a Word document of this form to register, please contact the Planning Policy Team at localplanningpolicy@somerset.gov.uk.
Confidentiality
By submitting an application form you are accepting that Somerset Council may use this data to better understand local demand and how best to encourage plots to be made available. Individual information on the application form (such as your name and address) is not made available to the public and remains confidential. If a developer wishes to contact those on the register who may be interested in a project, we will email those who have opted in to receive notifications. Information on where and what applicants would like to build is published within our base period reports. You can request to be removed from the register at any time.
If you need any extra information, here is a Frequently Asked Questions document produced by the former Mendip Council, but applicable for Somerset.
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and the self-build exemption
The Council has adopted a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charging schedule for the former areas of Taunton Deane (Area West), South Somerset (Area South) and Sedgemoor (Area North).
The CIL self-build exemption can be claimed by anybody who is building or commissioning the construction of their own home. For the exemption to apply, the applicant must own the property and continue to occupy the property as their principal residence for at least 3 years after work has been completed (“Clawback Period”). The exemption can be revoked should the applicant dispose of their property during the Clawback Period or following commencement of development.
The payment of CIL is triggered following commencement of development. An applicant can make an application to claim CIL self-build exemption at any point prior to the commencement of development on site.
Headline data for Somerset
The Council publishes a summary of the register. Each summary covers a different period of time, which are called base periods.
Area North
| Base period | Part 1 of register – number of individuals on register | Part 2 of register – number of individuals on register | Total number of individuals on register | Plots granted permission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base periodBase period 1 (30 March to 30 October 2016) | Part 1 of register – number of individuals on register37 | Part 2 of register – number of individuals on register0 | Total number of individuals on register37 | Plots granted permission16 |
| Base periodBase period 2 (31 October 2016 to 30 October 2017) | Part 1 of register – number of individuals on register35 | Part 2 of register – number of individuals on register2 | Total number of individuals on register37 | Plots granted permission27 |
| Base periodBase period 3 (31 October 2017 to 30 October 2018) | Part 1 of register – number of individuals on register36 | Part 2 of register – number of individuals on register16 | Total number of individuals on register52 | Plots granted permission95 |
| Base periodBase period 4 (31 October 2018 to 30 October 2019) | Part 1 of register – number of individuals on register52 | Part 2 of register – number of individuals on register8 | Total number of individuals on register60 | Plots granted permission70 |
| Base periodBase period 5 (31 October 2019 to 30 October 2020) | Part 1 of register – number of individuals on register59 | Part 2 of register – number of individuals on register16 | Total number of individuals on register75 | Plots granted permission71 |
| Base periodBase period 6 (31 October 2020 to 30 October 2021) | Part 1 of register – number of individuals on register70 | Part 2 of register – number of individuals on register21 | Total number of individuals on register91 | Plots granted permission62 |
| Base periodBase period 7 (31 October 2021 to 30 October 2022) | Part 1 of register – number of individuals on register50 | Part 2 of register – number of individuals on register53 | Total number of individuals on register103 | Plots granted permission81 |
See the latest Authority Monitoring Report for further information.
Area East
- Base Period 1 (23 March 2016 to 30 October 2016)
- Base Period 2 (31 October 2016 to 30 October 2017)
- Base Period 3 (31 October 2017 to 30 October 2018)
- Base Period 4 (31 October 2018 to 30 October 2019)
- Base Period 5 (31 October 2019 to 30 October 2020)
- Base Period 6 (31 October 2020 to 30 October 2021)
- Base Period 7 (31 October 2021 to 30 October 2022)
Area South
| Number | Base period | Number of plots required on the Self and Custom Build Register | Period by which need should be met (3 years from the end of each base period) | CIL monitoring – number of plots (net) custom/self-build – exemption issued in the base period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number1 | Base period6 August 2015 to 30 October 2016 | Number of plots required on the Self and Custom Build Register31 | Period by which need should be met (3 years from the end of each base period)30 October 2019 | CIL monitoring – number of plots (net) custom/self-build – exemption issued in the base periodNo CIL |
| Number2 | Base period31 October 2016 to 30 October 2017 | Number of plots required on the Self and Custom Build Register44 | Period by which need should be met (3 years from the end of each base period)30 October 2020 | CIL monitoring – number of plots (net) custom/self-build – exemption issued in the base period17 |
| Number3 | Base period31 October 2017 to 30 October 2018 | Number of plots required on the Self and Custom Build Register29 | Period by which need should be met (3 years from the end of each base period)30 October 2021 | CIL monitoring – number of plots (net) custom/self-build – exemption issued in the base period42 |
| Number4 | Base period31 October 2018 to 30 October 2019 | Number of plots required on the Self and Custom Build Register21 | Period by which need should be met (3 years from the end of each base period)30 October 2022 | CIL monitoring – number of plots (net) custom/self-build – exemption issued in the base period41 |
| Number5 | Base period31 October 2019 to 30 October 2020 | Number of plots required on the Self and Custom Build Register21 | Period by which need should be met (3 years from the end of each base period)30 October 2023 | CIL monitoring – number of plots (net) custom/self-build – exemption issued in the base period36 |
| Number6 | Base period31 October 2020 to 30 October 2021 | Number of plots required on the Self and Custom Build Register65 | Period by which need should be met (3 years from the end of each base period)30 October 2024 | CIL monitoring – number of plots (net) custom/self-build – exemption issued in the base period8 |
| Number7 | Base period31 October 2021 to 30 October 2022 | Number of plots required on the Self and Custom Build Register23 | Period by which need should be met (3 years from the end of each base period)30 October 2025 | CIL monitoring – number of plots (net) custom/self-build – exemption issued in the base period36 |
| Number8 | Base period31 October 2022 to 30 October 2023 | Number of plots required on the Self and Custom Build Register24 | Period by which need should be met (3 years from the end of each base period)30 October 2026 | CIL monitoring – number of plots (net) custom/self-build – exemption issued in the base period19 |
| NumberTotal | Base period | Number of plots required on the Self and Custom Build Register258 | Period by which need should be met (3 years from the end of each base period) | CIL monitoring – number of plots (net) custom/self-build – exemption issued in the base period199 |
Area West
Base Period 1 (31 March 2015 to 31 October 2016)
Base Period 2 (31 October 2016 to 30 October 2017)
Base Period 3 (31 October 2017 to 30 October 2018)
Base Period 4 (31 October 2018 to 30 October 2019)
Base Period 5 (31 October 2019 to 30 October 2020)
Base Period 6 (30 October 2020 to 31 October 2021)
Base Period 7 (31 October 2021 to 30 October 2022)
All Areas
8th Base Period Report (31 October 2022 to 30 October 2023)
Self-build and custom house-building plots and sites
At present, the Council does not have any land allocated for self-build or custom house-building projects. Nor is it currently selling land in its ownership for such projects with the exception of the former Mendip area (Area East). The Council has land allocated in Frome (FR7) for self-build homes. See Mendip Local Plan Part II for further detail.
Individuals can buy private land to build on although we recommend you seek planning advice before committing to purchase land for this purpose. If you would like pre-application advice before submitting your planning application, the Council can provide informal advice. See our Planning pre-application advice for more information.