Hampshire site chosen for large-scale custom build pilot

The site at Park Prewett, which is being brought forward for development by ZeroC, would offer buyers various levels of custom build housing, from entirely self-built homes to those with only the fittings customised.

Kim Slowe, Managing Director of Zero C, said: "Park Prewett is an outstanding opportunity for us to pioneer the delivery of custom build in the United Kingdom. We plan to take the lessons learned and roll out custom build in all our projects within the UK."

The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act introduced a requirement for local planning authorities to create and maintain a register of people who have expressed an interest in building their own homes or buying custom built homes. The Housing and Planning Bill, currently at the report stage in the House of Commons, will require councils to ensure enough plots are allocated to meet the level of demand as evidenced by their register.

An Oxfordshire council voted last month to adopt a local development order effectively granting permission in principle for nearly 200 self-build homes at Graven Hill near Bicester.

Planning expert Jennifer Holgate of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, said: "There is current political impetus behind the self-build movement. The coordination of a self-build summit by the National Custom and Self-Build Association at Downing Street on 9 December demonstrates high level support for proposals such as Park Prewett and the view that this is another tool through which to boost the supply of affordable housing."

"Politicians, however, are keen to ensure such movements are council led and it is hoped the new release of the Custom and Self Build Toolkit assists local planning authorities such as Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council in realising those aspirations," Holgate said.