Self-build and Custom Build Housing

• Self and Custom Build by Fareham Housing
• What is self and custom build housing?
• What is a serviced plot?
• What are the Council's duties in respect of self and custom build housing?
• What is the Self and Custom Build Register and can I join Fareham's register?
• How to join the Register
• How can I find a Plot?
• How do I go about progressing a Self and Custom Build project?
• Help to Build
• Key Statistics from the Self and Custom Build Register
• What have Fareham Council done so far?

What is self and custom build housing?

Self and custom-build housing typically involves individuals and/or groups designing and physically building a house for themselves or commissioning the construction of a new house from a builder, contractor, package company, whilst having input into the home's design. Sometimes developers offer the option of a serviced plot where individuals can design and build their own home as part of a larger scheme.

What is a serviced plot?

Serviced plots are ready to build on with all the infrastructure you need to start building your own home in place - water, gas, electricity, mains sewage, high-speed broadband and telephone, as well as access.

This type of plot tends to be on a larger site which has been divided into multiple individual plots by a developer.  Sites usually have outline planning permission, but they often have detailed planning permission - with a condition of buying a plot including some parameters you must work within - usually known as a plot passport.

What are the Council's duties in respect of self and custom build housing?

The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 requires that Councils:

• Keep and publicise a Register of people who want to self or custom build in their area;
• Have regard to the Register when exercising planning, housing land disposal and regeneration functions.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 place a duty on Councils to meet demand by granting 'development permissions for the carrying out of self-build and custom housebuilding on enough serviced plots of land to meet the demand in the authority's area arising in each base period'.

What is the Self and Custom Build Register and can I join Fareham's register?

The register is a list which individuals or groups can join to record their interest with the Council that they are interested in building or commissioning their own home in the Borough. The register helps with informing the Council of the level of demand for self and custom build plots in the Borough. We shall use the information provided to explore ways in which it might be possible for people and plots to be brought together. The register is not a plot provision service however, and registration does not guarantee that a suitable plot will be identified, or become available.

The Government has issued Regulations about eligibility for entry on the register .  An individual is eligible for entry on the register if that individual is:

• aged 18 or over
• a British citizen, a national of an EEA State other than the United Kingdom, or a national of Switzerland
• seeking (either alone or with others) to acquire a serviced plot of land in the relevant authority's area to build a house to occupy as that individual's sole or main residence

If the applicant is a group or an association, each member of the association must complete the online form and fulfil the eligibility criteria.

Find Key Statistics from the Self and Custom Build Register here.

How to join the Register

To register your interest in self and custom build in Fareham, please complete the online registration form .

We will not pass identifiable information from the Register on to anyone outside the Council without the written consent of the person who registered their details. From time to time we provide anonymised statistical data returns to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. We will provide information relating to relevant planning applications to registered applicants.

Please contact us via email at planningpolicy@fareham.gov.uk to notify us if your circumstances change or you wish to be deleted from the register.

How can I find a Plot?

As mentioned above, joining the Council's register helps us to understand the need in the Borough and provides evidence to developers to support inclusion of self and custom build in their developments and for the Council to permit sufficient permissions to meet this need. However, the register does not directly provide plots of land for self and custom build. Individual plots are often registered on websites such as:

• Plot Browser 
• PlotSearch 
• PlotFinder 

amongst others, as well as local estate agents. 

How do I go about progressing a Self and Custom Build project?

There is lots of support and information available relating to self-build and custom build at:

• Self Build Portal 
• Right to Build Toolkit 

Other websites also provide project advice, such as:

• Homebuilding & Renovating 
• Build It 

If you are interested in group or community self build, the following websites may be useful:

• What is a community 'self-build' housing project? 
• Community Self-Build: Getting started 
• Community-led housing 

Further sources of information are available at: 

• National Custom and Self Build Association 
• Right to Build Task Force 

Help to Build

• In 2022 the government launched the Help to Build equity loan scheme to help aspiring homebuilders to finance their custom or self build development. Information on the eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the Own Your Own Home website .

What has Fareham Council done so far?

• In 2015 The Welborne Plan (15 MB) was adopted, which includes WEL21, a policy to provide 60 custom build dwellings at Welborne.
• In 2018 the Council's Executive approved the Self and Custom Build Action Plan for implementation.
• In 2023 the Fareham Local Plan 2037 (19 MB) was adopted which includes HP9, a self and custom build policy which requires developments of 40 homes or more to provide 10% as self or custom build plots.
• The Council adopted the Self and Custom Build Housing Supplementary Planning Document in October 2023. It is available here: Self and Custom Build Housing SPD.
• The Council reviewed the Self and Custom Build Action Plan in July 2024, removing the register's Local Connection Test as a result. More information is available here: Self and Custom Build Housing Action Plan Review (223 KB).

For further assistance regarding self and custom build housing please contact Emma Younger, Principal Planner in the Planning Strategy team on 01329 824326 or email planningpolicy@fareham.gov.uk.