Residents interested in building their own homes are invited to meet a range of experts at West Offices ahead of the opening of bidding for the council’s first ever self-build plots.
As part of the council’s commitment to provide a range of housing opportunities for residents, six self-build plots will be made available at the council’s Lowfield Green development.
The plots will come complete with outline planning permission, connected to all utilities and have an access road.
Interested residents can meet knowledgeable council staff and other specialists to see what is involved to complete a self-build home at West Offices on Friday, 30 November. These will include a mortgage broker specifically for self builders, architects, specialists in timber frame and in low energy home construction and people experienced in self building willing to share their experiences.
Applications to bid for the plots will be invited in late spring 2019 and the outcome announced in early summer. Within six months of contracts being signed planning must be secured by the new owner, with the home competed within a further 18 months. The homes must be used as the owners’ permanent residence for three years.
Of the six plots, the two smaller ones are only available to first time buyers. The four larger plots can be bid for by either people new to the property market, who need to build for disabled access or who build renewable energy production into their home.
The 240 people who have already expressed an interest in building their own home following earlier consultation, have been invited to the event and anyone else is welcome to attend.
Cllr Jenny Brooks, executive member for housing and safer neighbourhoods, said: “We believe this is one of very few opportunities in the country to bid for self-build plots serviced with outline planning permission, utilities and a connecting road.
“Like our open market shared ownership scheme, we are being innovative in offering residents a variety of creative options to secure affordable homes for themselves in the city.
“These homes can be modular, hand-built by the owner or commissioned from a builder, with building materials and labour VAT-free. They must be occupied for three years by the owners, with households with disabilities or those with a commitment to renewable energy to be given priority.”
Anyone interested can come along to the event on Friday 30 November 2018, 3-6pm at West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA. For more detail on the event, please email [email protected]
To find out more about self-build in York or register your interest in it, please visit www.york.gov.uk/SelfBuildCustomHousing