Self-build and custom housebuilding

• chancery search (PDF 506kb)
• enviro search (PDF 4mb)
• official copy (register) (PDF 81kb)
• title plan (PDF 441kb)
• topographical survey (PDF 3mb)
• utilities report (PDF 20mb)
• water search (PDF 868kb)
• register of local land charges (PDF 59kb)

• additional provisions (PDF 63kb)
• contract for the sale of freehold land with vacant possession conditional on PLA (PDF 258kb)
• pre-emption (PDF 124kb)
• declaration of trust by individuals as tenants in common (PDF 87kb)
• schedule 2 put option (PDF 41kb)

• Build Store – support and services for individual homebuilders
• Build Store – case studies
• Build Store – mortgage services
• Build Store – project advice
• examples of self-build and custom housebuilding from the UK and Europe
• Home Building self-build mortgage
• LABC advice for building projects
• National Customs & Self Build Association (NaCSBA)
• Energy Savings Trust – offering independent and impartial advice
• Passive House

• approved documents
• approved document L1A – provides practical guidance about how to meet the requirements in new dwellings.
• building control – domestic building works
• building regulations 2010 for England
• LP33
• Mayor of London small site portal
• part 6 of the building regulations 2010 for England. This sets the standards for energy efficiency in new and existing buildings
• planning guidance
• Planning Portal – guidance on planning process and building regulations
• sustainable design and construction SPD

We do not endorse any private companies. These examples are provided for information only:

• nHouse – manufactures kit houses in the UK
• Cube-Haus – self build developers that help self-builders plan and deliver projects
• find builders and check their qualifications
• find local tradesmen with Checkatrade
• find local tradesmen with MyBuilder
• find a certified architect in your area

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