{"id":55127,"date":"2015-03-12T14:48:41","date_gmt":"2015-03-12T14:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=4fe2d12420b4b36ba8d9c806b055e081"},"modified":"2015-03-12T14:48:41","modified_gmt":"2015-03-12T14:48:41","slug":"press-release-government-fund-to-support-thousands-more-custom-builders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=55127","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Government fund to support thousands more custom builders"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A multi-million pound fund will help aspiring custom builders get their projects off the ground more quickly, Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said today (12 March 2015).<\/p>\n

The minister announced that the next phase of a \u00a3150 million fund is now open to bidders. It will create up to 10,000 so-called \u2018serviced plots\u2019 \u2013 land prepared for housebuilding, and connected to utilities such as gas and water, so builders can go straight in and build.<\/p>\n

The average self-build takes 2 years \u2013 but those using serviced plots can cut this by up to a year.<\/p>\n

Mr Lewis said that more and more people want to build their own home and today\u2019s move will help further unlock the \u201cmassive potential\u201d the custom build industry has to expand.<\/p>\n

Unlocking the country\u2019s custom build potential<\/h2>\n

Housebuilding is an important part of the government\u2019s long-term economic plan, with custom build a key part of that. <\/p>\n

The custom and self build industry currently accounts for around 10,000 new homes every year \u2013 but the government is backing industry-led efforts to double that by 2020.<\/p>\n

The \u00a3150 million fund is open to small builders and community groups as short-term loans to help get the land ready for housebuilding. The land can then be sold as individual plots to people looking to build their own home.<\/p>\n

Mr Lewis said he was determined to ensure as many people as possible could fulfil their custom build ambitions \u2013 so he has given the green light for the first 3 bids to proceed to the next stage of assessment. <\/p>\n

Subject to successful completion 3 small builders in St Helens, South Norfolk and West Lindsey will receive a share of \u00a3850,000 to help provide 41 plots.<\/p>\n

Brandon Lewis said:<\/p>\n

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Custom build should not be something that\u2019s confined to a small and select group of people \u2013 anyone who aspires to build their own home should have the opportunity to do so.<\/p>\n

We want to see the industry grow significantly and this \u00a3150 million fund will help further unlock the massive potential it has to help even more people achieve their ambitions.<\/p>\n

This fund will help create shovel-ready serviced plots so small developers and custom-builders can get on and build, finishing their projects more quickly.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The minister is today visiting the Urban Self Build site<\/a> in Peterborough, an 11-home development that benefited from more than \u00a3700,000 government loan funding last year.<\/p>\n

Further measures to support self build<\/h2>\n

The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Bill<\/a> will bring forward the first part of the government\u2019s new right to build by placing a duty on councils to maintain a register of people who are looking to buy serviced plot land to build their own homes. <\/p>\n

Councils will also have to take account of the demand for self and custom build when exercising their planning, housing, regeneration and land disposal functions.<\/p>\n

This private member\u2019s bill, which finished its passage through Parliament this week, will receive royal assent later this month. <\/p>\n

It is in addition to a range of measures the government has already taken to support small developers and self-builders, including:<\/p>\n