Advice and resources for building your own home

Planning permission

You will need to get planning permission for your self-build, custom build or community-led housing project. You can find out how to apply and how to seek pre-application advice, or look at the Planning Portal for information about planning. 

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

Many new developments have to pay the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), but self-build projects may be exempt.

You can find out if you are eligible for relief or an exemption from the CIL on the Planning Portal. If you are eligible, you need to claim it before you start work on site.

Self Build Portal

The Self Build Portal gives information and advice about:

• finding a plot    
• sources of finance
• routes to self build
• construction methods
• sustainability
• case studies
• events

Eastern Community Homes

We have formed a partnership with Eastern Community Homes.

They provide tools and support for groups interested in affordable community-led housing. This can include Community Land Trusts, cooperatives, co-housing schemes, self-help housing, group self-build, or almshouses.

They provide advice from the initial idea or vision, right through to delivery. They help groups to access a network of technical advisors and housing associations.    

BuildStore

BuildStore provides information about self building, renovation and conversion products and services.

National Community Land Trust Network

The National Community Land Trust Network provides advice and support for newly-formed groups.

National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA)

The National Custom and Self Build Association seeks to influence educate and promote self-build and custom housebuilding.

Plot Browser

Plot Browser lets you to search for land or plots for sale. However, even if a plot is for sale, that doesn't mean that it has (or would be granted) planning permission to build on. 

Right-to-Build Task Force

The Right-to-Build Task Force provides support to local authorities, community groups and other organisations as they work to increase the delivery of custom and self-build projects.

Self Build Guide

The Self Build Guide provides information about land, house design, finance and resources.     

UK Cohousing

UK Cohousing provides information about cohousing, where people live privately but come together as a community to share activities like cooking, childcare and gardening.

Professional organisations publish lists of their members, who may be able to help your project. You can look at:

• Architects Registration Board    
• Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants 
• Institution of Civic Engineers
• Institution of Structural Engineers
• Royal Institute of British Architects
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
• The Law Society

Chelmsford Local Plan

Local Plan Policy DM1 (Ci) requires, within all new developments of more than 100 dwellings, 5% self-build homes, which can include custom housebuilding. We will secure this requirement through a planning obligation.

Planning Advice Notes and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD)

Developers need to take into account the:

• Planning Obligations SPD
• Self Build and Custom Build Design Code Template
• Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Planning Advice Note

These documents provide information from the self-build register, as well as guidance on how to adhere to and implement the Local Plan self-build policy requirement.

Self-build monitoring statement

We publish a Self Build Monitoring Statement annually that sets out the identified demand from the Self-Build Register against the number of suitable development permissions granted. This shows whether we are meeting our demand each year or not.