Self-build and custom housebuilding register

The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 and the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding (Register) Regulation 2016 places a duty on local authorities to keep a register of individuals and associations of individuals who express an interest in acquiring a serviced plot of land in the authority’s area.

What is self-build and custom housebuilding?

Self-build is where you purchase the land and build your own house on a single plot. You may build the house yourself or employ a builder, architect and, if necessary a project manager to oversee the build.

Custom housebuilding is similar to self build homes but facilitated in some way by a developer. This still offers the chance to have a unique home, but through a more hands off approach than a traditional self build. Custom build can mean a single one-off home commissioned by an individual and built by a developer, through to a group of homes, built by a developer, but with the offer of bespoke design for the individual.

What are service plots of land?

These are plots that have access to public highways and connections for electricity, water and waste water.

Who is eligible for entry on the register?

An individual is eligible for entry in the register if that individual is:

• aged 18 or over
• a British citizen, a national of an 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 relevant authority’s 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.

How do I apply?

An application for entry on the register must be made in writing by completing the Self and Custom Build Register application form available at the bottom of this page. On completion of the form, please email it to: housing.strategy@salford.gov.uk. 

What happens next?

An application for entry in the register will be decided by the authority within 28 days of the date of the application.

The authority will notify the applicant in writing that entry into the register will be made.

Where the authority decides that an application is not eligible to be registered, the authority will notify the applicant in writing and give reasons.

The authority will remove an entry from the register within 28 days of receiving a written request from an individual applicant or the lead contact of an association (or other person as the authority considers to be acting on behalf of the association) to be removed from the register.

The authority may remove an entry from the register if the authority considers that the individual or association is no longer eligible for entry in the register. The subject of the entry will be notified (within 28 days of this decision being made) in writing giving reasons for this decision.

As well as registering with us you may also find the National Custom and Self-build Association web site useful.

Monitoring report

In December 2024 the city council published its latest self-build and custom housebuilding monitoring report setting out headline data from the register. The report also sets out how the city council has met its legal duty with regards to granting planning permission to enough suitable serviced plots of land to meet demand shown by the register.

This page was last updated on 11 December 2024