Self Build Homes Coming To Wokingham
Wokingham Borough Council’s decision-making executive has approved the council’s first self-build housing project at its meeting on January 31. The project will see 21 self-build plots of land at Wheatsheaf Close made available to Wokingham Borough residents.
Eight of the plots will be sold to self-builders on the open market, which will help offset the cost of the remaining 13 plots, which will be available to self-builders on a shared ownership basis to help residents get onto the housing ladder. The council will retain the freehold to all of the shared ownership units. All the plots will be prioritised for applicants on the council’s self-build register who meet the local connection criteria.
Feasibility work suggests that four 2-bedroom houses, twelve 3-bedroom houses, four 4-bedroom houses and one 5-bedroom house would work on the site. This may change as the project develops.
Next Step
The next step is to appoint a project manager for the development. The project manager will facilitate this community-led scheme, bringing together local residents and self-builders to develop plans for the site in conjunction with Wokingham Borough Council and Wokingham Housing Ltd.
It is currently anticipated that an outline planning application, including a clear design guide to ensure consistent and high quality design is achieved across the development, will be submitted in 2020.
Self Build Register
The council has a self-build register, which is a scheme to identify people wanting to build or commission their own home in the Borough. For more information or to apply to go on the self-build register, visit the council’s website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk and search ‘self-build’.
Executive member for health and wellbeing, adult social care and housing Cllr Parry Batth said, “This is a great opportunity for residents across the Borough who are interested in building their own home to have a chance to do it. We are particularly excited about the 13 plots that will be available under a shared ownership scheme as this will allow our residents who would not be able to afford to build their own home without some financial help the opportunity to do so—this is designed to help those first time buyers looking to get on the housing ladder.”
“If you have any interest in building your own home, get on our self-build register now to be notified about how to apply for one of these self-build plots.”
