Policy H/CB: Self and custom build homes

1. All development proposals including 20 or more dwellings must provide at least 5% of the new homes as serviced plots for custom and self build houses and/or serviced custom-build flats. 

  a.Specific types of housing schemes are not appropriate for custom and self build homes and are therefore excluded from this requirement. Exclusions include: 

    i. Build to Rent schemes, 

    ii. Schemes where at least 80% of homes are affordable, 

    iii. Gypsy & Traveller sites,

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers.

yards and other residential caravan schemes, 

    iv. Residential institution use accommodation, 

    v. Accommodation specifically for older people such as extra-care schemes or age-restricted housing, and 

    vi. Other accommodation that is primarily targeting the rented market such as Homes in Multiple Occupation. 

2. On major developments for housing where affordable housing is being provided the custom and self-build homes will count towards the market housing contribution unless they are specifically delivered as affordable homes. Early delivery of custom and self-build homes will be strongly supported.

3. The following criteria apply to all custom and self build developments: 

  a. Each plot must be marketed for at least a 12 month marketing period in accordance with a marketing strategy and valuation approved by the local planning authority at the outline or full planning application stage. Once plots have been marketed for the minimum period, they will either be further marketed for a period of time as has been agreed by the local planning authority or will be transferred to a

Registered Provider means a provider of Affordable Housing which is designated in the register maintained by the Homes and Communities Agency. The statutory register of social housing providers lists private (non-profit and profit-making) providers and local authority providers. Most non-profit providers are also known as housing associations.

for the provision of affordable housing at affordable housing land values, 

  b. Prior to marketing, each plot must be developable by a custom and self build home builder, with no issues to prevent immediate purchase and development, 

  c. Conditions will be attached to outline planning permissions to secure agreement of Plot Passports and Design Codes for the development prior to the submission of the first Reserved Matters application, 

  d. Applications must demonstrate how initial occupants have had or will have primary input into the final design and layout of the dwelling which is sufficient to meet the definition of custom and self build housing, and 

  e. Custom-finish proposals will only be acceptable as flats. 

National planning policy requires the housing needs of those who wish to commission or build their own homes to be reflected in planning policies. National legislation requires local authorities to keep a register of those people seeking to acquire serviced plots within the area for their own custom or self build home, and through the same legislation local planning authorities have a duty to grant planning permission for enough plots to meet the identified demand. 

The legal definition of custom and self build housing is clear that to comply the initial occupant, or group of occupants, must have primary input to the final design and layout. 

The

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Custom and Self Build Register demonstrates a continued demand for custom and self build plots and this policy responds by ensuring an increased supply of new provision is delivered. 

The supply of custom and self build plots with planning permission is routinely monitored and is reported at the end of each base period on the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service website. The 5% requirement may be reduced where at least a 1 year oversupply of custom and self-build housing permissions exists and subject to agreement with the local planning authority. In assessing the extent to which a shortfall or surplus of custom and self-build housing permissions exists across the plan area, the

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Custom and Self Build Register will be used with reference to the relevant base period.

A significant proportion of new development in

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

is expected to be flatted accommodation. If the statutory duty to match demand for custom and self build with permissions is to be met it is important that this development contributes towards the delivery of custom and self build plots. It is recognised that the type of custom and self build delivered will be influenced by the type of dwellings being built on any given development. Flatted developments may be better suited to a custom finish approach but it is important that such dwellings still provide sufficient design input opportunity for the occupier to meet the definition of custom and self build. 

Criteria 1 and 3e) identify the distinction between flats and houses and the requirement that custom finish proposals will only be acceptable as flats. This distinction is designed to allow for the delivery of custom-build flats, which by their very nature cannot facilitate the same level of customisation achievable in custom and self-build houses, whilst helping to ensure houses are designed and delivered in a manner consistent with the preferences expressed through the Council’s Custom and Self Build Housing Register. 

Criterion 2 strongly encourages the early delivery of custom and self-build plots. Custom and self-build plots should be delivered prior to 25% occupation of the relevant phase in which the serviced plots are located as agreed at outline planning application stage. For larger schemes of 200 or more dwellings, a phasing plan should be included at the outline planning application stage showing how custom and self-build plots will be made available at a rate broadly in proportion to the build out of the phase. 

In applying criterion 3d) and demonstrating compliance with the custom and self-build housing legal definition, set out in section 1(A1) of the Self Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended) and interpreted in the self-build and custom housebuilding section of national planning practice guidance, applicants of outline applications should briefly set out how initial occupants will have primary input into the final design and layout of the custom and self-build home(s). A potential satisfactory explanation could be that serviced plots will be sold to initial occupants prior to the submission of the first design focussed plot level reserved matters application. 

Applicants of full or relevant reserved matters applications should set out how initial occupants have had primary input into the final design and layout of the custom and self-build home(s). Potential satisfactory explanations could include that the applicant will be the initial occupant or the initial occupant has had the primary input into the design and layout of their home through the preparation of the full or relevant reserved matters application. 

Relevant reserved matters applications will usually be the first such application on each plot that seeks to fix the design and layout of the custom and self-build home(s). 

Proposals specifically for custom and self build homes will be required to contribute towards the delivery of affordable housing in line with Policy H/AH: Affordable housing. However, it is anticipated that most provision will be through a commuted sum. Direct delivery through a

Registered Provider means a provider of Affordable Housing which is designated in the register maintained by the Homes and Communities Agency. The statutory register of social housing providers lists private (non-profit and profit-making) providers and local authority providers. Most non-profit providers are also known as housing associations.

or community-led housing scheme will also be acceptable. 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

  : Homes Topic Paper (2025)
• Greater CambridgeHousing Strategy 2024-2029: Homes for Our Future and Annexes 1-8
• Housing Needs of Specific Groups in Cambirdge and South Cambridgeshire (2025)

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Custom and Self Build Register

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

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All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.