BASE HEADER

No

ID sylw: 108280

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Spitfire Homes

Asiant : Harris Lamb

No. We support the section of Draft Policy B that facilitates self-build and custom build housing on unallocated sites, however, we do not support the proposal that 5% of all plots on large housing sites are made available for custom and self-build homes.
The potential new settlement allocations in the Plan will deliver over 6,000 dwellings. If a site of this size is expected to provide 5% custom and self-build provision this means that 300 self-build and custom-build plots will be required in single locations. There is no evidence to suggest that there is this level of demand for self and custom-build plots in such large clusters.
There is no evidence to justify the requirements for 5% provision. In order for this requirement to remain in Policy robust evidence must be provided explaining how the 5% requirement has been established and how this relates to identified demand. In this regard, it is noted that the Stratford Upon Avon District Council self-build and custom-build position statement (December 2024) advises that at 30th October 2024 there was a surplus of 18 self-build plots. Whilst there is an identified need for further 116 self-build plots by 2027, this is a relatively insignificant amount compared to the number of self-build and custom-build plots that can be generated by draft Policy D.
In addition, households seeking custom and self-build plots are, in our experience, unlikely to be attracted to individual plots in new build housing estates. Typically, they prefer self build and custom plots in and around the age of settlements. Unless the Councils can evidence specific demand for plots within large scale developments of this nature, it should not be included within the Policy.
It should also be noted that the introduction of a 5% self-build plots policy will, in all likelihood, have a direct impact on densities as typically self-build plots are larger than normal development plots.