Policy H/CB: Self and Custom Build Homes

9.59.  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.

9.60.  The term self and custom build is applied to all forms of custom homes and self build homes. There are a broad spectrum of house building options with varying levels of input from the home owner, however in planning law, all custom and self build homes have the same status. 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.

9.61.  The Greater Cambridge Custom and Self Build Register demonstrates a continued demand for custom and self build plots. The Local Plan responds to this by ensuring an increased supply of new provision is delivered on developments of 20 or more dwellings, and by not preventing the delivery of self and custom build homes on other schemes provided that these developments meet the policies within this plan relating to residential developments.

9.62.  Any self or custom build home permitted, irrespective of whether it is a single plot development or one plot within a much larger development, will be counted within the number of plots with planning permission. 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 on developments of 20 or more dwellings may be reduced where at least a one 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 Greater Cambridge Custom and Self Build Register will be used with reference to the relevant base period.

9.63.  A significant proportion of new development in Greater Cambridge 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.

9.64.  Criteria 1 and 4c identify the distinction between flats and houses and the requirement that custom finish proposals will only be acceptable as flats. Custom build houses are acceptable. 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.

9.65.  Criterion 1 sets out a range of housing schemes that will be excluded from the requirement to include custom and self build homes. Criterion 1b specifically excludes schemes where at least 80% of homes are affordable. This is designed to exclude rural exception sites (see Policy H/ES). However, it is recognised that there may be other schemes that are delivering higher than policy compliant levels of affordable housing which may create viability challenges when combined with custom and self build requirements. Where schemes are delivering affordable housing at 10% or more above policy compliant levels, custom and self build requirements may be lowered or waived subject to suitable viability evidence.

9.66.  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.

9.67.  In applying criterion 4b 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.

9.68.  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.

9.69.  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).

9.70.  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. However, it is anticipated that most provision will be through a commuted sum. Direct delivery through a Registered Provider or community-led housing scheme will also be acceptable.

For further guidance on how to submit comments, please see the Representation Guidance Note.

All comments must be received by 25 September 2026 at 5pm.