Self-build and custom housebuilding

Self-build gives people the option to buy a plot of land, then manage the entire design and the building process themselves.

Custom build gives people the option to work with a specialist developer to design and customise some elements of their new home. It starts with a plot of land or a basic built ‘shell’. People can then choose the particular layouts, finishes, fixtures and fittings they want.

The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 and Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding (Register) Regulation 2016 require us to keep a register of individuals and associations of individuals who are interested in self-build and custom housebuilding and are seeking to acquire serviced plots of land within the Council.

The Act also places a duty on councils and other public bodies to have regard to the self-build and custom housebuilding register when carrying out their planning, housing, land disposal and regeneration functions. See planning practice guide for more information.

The self-build and custom housebuilding register provides valuable information on demand for self-build and custom housebuilding in the local area and forms a key part of our evidence base on demand for this type of housing.

We do not have a duty to find land or allocate plots for people listed on the register to build housing.

Applicants must meet all of the eligibility criteria for entry on the register. Each individual applicant and every member of an association of individuals that applies for entry on the register must be:

• aged 18 or older
• a British citizen, a national of a EEA State other than the United Kingdom, or a national of Switzerland and seeking (either alone or with others) to acquire a serviced plot of land in the Hackney area to build a house to occupy as that individual’s sole or main residence
• an association is eligible for entry in the register if each member of the association meets all of the eligibility requirements for an individual set out above

For the purposes of section 5 of the Act, the specified requirements for a serviced plot of land are that the plot has:

• access to a public highway; and
• connections for electricity, water and waste water

Individual applicants

Couples, two or more members of one household, who are jointly seeking to acquire a serviced plot of land to build a house to occupy as their sole or main residence should make a single entry to the register.

Association applicants

Individuals who wish to register as an association must appoint a member or officer to act as the lead contact for the purposes of correspondence between the association and the Council.

Apply to be included on the register

Complete the self-build application form and return it to:

Strategic Planning team
Hackney Council
1 Hillman Street, E8 1DY

Or email planmaking@hackney.gov.uk.

For more information, visit the Self Build Portal or if you require guidance on filling this application; contact us on 020 8356 8084 or email planmaking@hackney.gov.uk.

• we will determine your application for entry into the register and notify you in writing within 28 days of the date that the application was received
• we may remove an entry from the register if we consider that the individual (or in the case of an association, any member of the association) is no longer eligible for entry in the register
• where we decide to remove an entry from the register, we will notify the applicant and give reasons for the decision