Mario Wolf Director, Right to Build Task Force
The Right to Build Task Force Launched February 2017 by NaCSBA Funded by the Nationwide Foundation Supported in Housing White Paper Established to support local authorities and other organisations across the UK to deliver large, affordable Custom and Self Build housing projects Supports objective to deliver 20,000+ Custom and Self Build homes per year by 2020, to give more people the choice to have an affordable that fully meets their needs Comprises Task Force Director and 10-20 Experts, overseen by Board which includes representatives from NaCSBA, HCA, NHF, LGA, RICS and RTPI
Type of organisations and projects supported Local authorities, community organisations/groups, housing associations, devolved administrations, other public sector bodies (across UK) Focus on delivering more affordable/lower cost Custom and Self build homes Priority given to projects delivering more homes at scale, or initiatives that are capable of replication: 100+ homes for local authority/private sector projects 30+ homes for community organisations or group projects Projects need strong support/backing from senior local politicians Target to support 80 organisations over the next three years
The Legislative Framework and the The Right to Build New duty on Councils since April 2016 Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015: keep and publicise a Register of people who want to self/custom build in their area; have regard to Register when exercising planning, housing, land disposal, regeneration functions Housing and Planning Act 2016: amends/supplements Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 duty on Councils to meet demand on Register by granting development permissions for enough serviced plots to meet demand on rolling annual basis (three years to deliver) defines what Custom and Self Build homes are and what a serviced plot is Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Regulations 2016 Self-build and Custom Housebuilding (Time for Compliance and Fees) Regulations 2016
What is Custom and Self Build housing? Custom Build Working with a specialist developer or enabler to deliver the home Many offer ready-to-go serviced plots Less risk/faster Self Build People directly organise the design and construction of their homes Very few actually do the main construction work Usually single homes, but both approaches can be used by groups working together
The potential of Custom and Self Build housing 13,000 CSB homes in 2016 5% year-on-year growth Significant national demand 53% of adults in UK want to build 24% increase in single new home permissions in 2016 More than a million want to buy a site and start in next 12 months A quarter of them like the idea of working collectively as a group 18,000 households registered on Demand Registers (Oct 2016) even though 80% of people don t know about them!
What we know about demand (Ipsos MORI /NaCSBA Annual Omnibus Survey of 2,000 Adults) 3% of adult population say that they are likely to personally consider doing a Custom or Self Build project on a plot that forms part of a larger development 19% of people believe that if Custom or Self Build homes made up a larger share of new homes being built, public support for building new homes would increase
How many Custom and Self Build homes are built elsewhere? 80% International comparison of Self-build and Custom Housebuilding 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
What is stopping more people from building their own homes?
Custom & Self Build Extending Housing Choice
Fixing the Broken Housing Market we will diversify the housing market, opening it up to smaller builders and those who embrace innovative and efficient methods. Foreword to the Housing White Paper from the Prime Minister, Theresa May.
New Home Completions vs House Price Growth (We need to build many more homes)
Benefits for Councils and Communities Councils Improves housing diversity/quality Supports local smaller builders/local economies Modular housing friendly Can speed-up and grow supply Fewer planning objections Communities Widens choice/options Can help on affordability Greater community cohesion
Benefits for Builders and Landowners Taps into wider demand, as offer is different Can speed-up build out Improves site marketability Shares risk if working with specialist enabling partner Can improve viability and help with cashflow
Four main delivery Models
Serviced Plots www.customandselfbuildtoolkit.org.uk
Serviced Plots on larger housing sites Charles Church, Newcastle Great Park 39 serviced plots from 390-981 sq m (460 sq m plot costs 170,000), Popular with new home owners. Other sites at: Seaton Vale, Ashington; Breighton Road, Sheffield; Woodhouse, Sheffield and Ingleby Barwick, County Durham
Leithfield Park, Milford, Surrey David Wilson Homes, 10 Custom Build plots on 108 home site (9%) Choose plot, house type + room configurations + specification packages. Popular with buyers.
Other projects Wynyard Park, County Durham (with Taylor Wimpey, Story Homes, Avant Homes, David Wilson Homes) Self Build plots available in three main developments: Manorside, The Beaumont and Wellington Gardens. Manorside has 28 premium plots reserved for Grand Self Build residences. Design Code specifies approval process and other requirements, including need for buyers to consult landowner at early design stage and submit designs and materials for approval within 3 months of plot purchase (consultation fee payable)
Other projects Dominion, Carr Lodge, Doncaster Fairgrove Homes 25 plots with D&B contract to build range of 3, 4 and 5 bed homes (8% of overall scheme) Choice over build stage: watertight, basic build with bronze, silver or gold finish
Other projects Aylesbury Woodlands (part of Garden Town) Buckinghamshire Advantage At least 165 plots on 1,100 home scheme (15%) Final quantum, mix, location still being considered
Other projects Squirrel Wood, Basingstoke ZeroC 122 Custom Build homes (including affordable housing) Buyers reserve plot, get help to secure custom-build mortgage, choose house type, room layouts and other available features and agree design/build contract. Customers can also use own builder.
Other projects on smaller parcels or sites Blueprint, Green Street, Phase II, Nottingham 7 Custom Build homes on 21 unit site, extensive interior layout and finish choices Quinn Estates, Hammill Park, Kent 19 serviced plots for enabled self build, with outline planning- strong local demand
Other projects on smaller parcels or sites Potton 30 projects potentially providing 290 plots across the UK. Working with four developers to establish custom build on larger sites
Opportunities to deliver at scale and density www.righttobuildtoolkit.org.uk
Mixed approaches on larger sites www.righttobuildtoolkit.org.uk
Mixed approaches on larger sites Freiburg City Council Building groups as development partners. International model of best practice www.righttobuildtoolkit.org.uk
Opportunities in garden towns and villages, on larger sites to diversify offer, or smaller sites on edge of urban areas, or exception sites
Custom Build enabled models
Affordable housing policy compliant models Community Land Trusts Discount market sale Shared ownership Affordable and social rent Opportunities on exception sites or as part of affordable housing mix on larger sites
New delivery models
Neighbourhood planning opportunities Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan Allocation for 112 Custom and Self Build homes 11 homes 101 homes
Controlling design quality with flexibility- design codes ACCESS ROAD
Create varying townscape- Trust people/designers and encourage diversity
Delivery challenges Estimating demand Marketing & phased releases important Locational considerations on larger sites (create hub, quarter or Custom and Self Build zone - don t pepper pot ) Build mortgages readily available
Site build out can be effectively managed Planning conditions and Section 106 obligations with planning permission can help deliver well-designed homes quickly but should avoid imposing too many restrictions Range of approaches available- how they are applied and by who depends on type of site and the degree of control needed Wide range of available tools, including Local Development Orders, land sale agreements, Restrictive Covenants- not all controls need to be imposed by the local authority
Task Force progress so far Interest high- steady stream of enquiries Support already given to Buckinghamshire Advantage and range of other organisations Currently advising North Northamptonshire Joint Planning and Delivery Unit on opportunities across boroughs, including 6 sustainable urban extensions and the proposed new Tresham Garden Village Range of further commissions now being finalised, including two other garden villages Sharing experience with stakeholders through regional Expos and online case studies Presence at conferences and events nationally and pushing messages through media
How does the Task Force work? SUBMIT EXPRESSION OF INTEREST INITIAL DISCUSSION WITH TASK FORCE DIRECTOR PROPOSAL PREPARED AND PROJECT BRIEF AGREED QUALIFIED TASK FORCE EXPERT APPOINTED TO MATCH NEEDS WORK UNDERTAKEN TO AGREED MILESTONES
Strategic Planning Design Codes Serviced Plots Demand assessments Areas where Task Force can help Funding and viability Group projects Affordable housing Marketing and promotion
New demand assessment tool in development