Birmingham City Council have presented people within the region an opportunity to construct their own homes.

1. Birmingham City Council Project Presents Self-Builders with New
Property Opportunities
Birmingham City Council have presented people within the region an opportunity to
construct their own homes. Tiny plots of land deemed unfit for significant council
construction projects were offered to official registered self-builders within the area,
to prevent property developers submitting bids at a much higher price.
Birmingham City Council has also offered other benefits to any self-builders that
opted into the Grand Designs-style self-build project. These include:
• An option to purchase the small parcel of land now and then repay this at a
future date, when it is more affordable for the buyer to do this
• Simplification of the planning process
• Advice and information provided to self-builders on Government tax breaks
and grants
There are currently around 10,000 self-build homes built each year in the United
Kingdom and Birmingham City Council view this project as a way of working in
collaboration with local aspiring self-builders to help achieve housing targets within
Birmingham.
Some of the proposed new measures featured as part of this project are detailed
below:
• Preserving a register of self-builders in the area, who have a desire to
undertake the construction of their own self-build housing
• Removal of the barrier to available sites to build on in Birmingham through
making unused land available to any self-builders on the official list
• Recognising the benefit that self-build can bring to the region and ensuring it
is included as part of new planning guidelines
• Safeguarding against construction projects being taken by developers through
ensuring plots of land are reserved and made available to self-builders on the
register
Birmingham City Council has also implemented a new wide-ranging strategy which
includes guidelines for the development of new housing of a high standard. This
policy includes plans to improve existing homes too. The council has also reached an
agreement that will see 800 long term empty properties developed and made
available to rent over the next four years.
If you are considering undertaking any type of self-build project now or in the future,
whether it is a new build or changes to an existing property, it is very important to
have the right level of self-build insurance in place to provide you with the protection
and peace of mind that is needed when carrying out such a venture. For more
information about self-build insurance please visit: www.selfbuildinsure.co.uk