Guidance on the self-build and custom house building register

We are required by the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 to maintain a register of everyone interested in building their own home.

The register has 2 parts:

• the part 1 register is for those who meet the national and local connection criteria
• the part 2 register is for those who meet the national or other criteria but do not meet the local connection criteria

We will count entries on the part 1 register and must provide the equivalent number of suitable serviced plots with planning permission for self and custom build projects.

The entries in part 2 will not be counted but we'll consider them when carrying out planning, housing, land disposal and regeneration functions.

The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding (Register) Regulations 2016 has set the national eligibility criteria.

You should:

• be aged 18 or older
• be either a British citizen, a national of a European Economic Area (EEA) State other than the United Kingdom or a national of Switzerland
• be seeking to build a home as your sole or main residence
• have paid any fee required by the relevant authority to join or remain on the register

If you demonstrate a local connection to the council area and meet the national criteria, you are eligible to join part 1 of the register.

You must meet and provide evidence for at least 1 of the following criteria:

• you've lived in the council area continuously for 2 years or more
• you've been in permanent or continuous temporary employment within the council area for at least 2 years
• you have immediate family members who have been living in the council area for at least 3 years ('immediate family' is defined as parents, children, siblings or spouses/partners)
• you currently serve in the regular armed forces of the Crown or have left regular service within the last 5 years

Evidence for a local connection may include but is not limited to:

• Council Tax bills
• household utility bills
• pay slip or employment contract
• name and address of the family member and their Council Tax or utilities bill
• armed forces identification (ID) card
• veteran ID card or discharge papers

To join our self-build and custom housebuilding register, you must pay:

• £25 to join part 1
• £25 annual fee to remain on part 1
• £10 to join part 2 (a one-off charge)

To get the most from your registration we recommend registering early at the start of each base period. We will send out reminders at the end of each year.

By joining the register you'll help us understand the level of interest for self- and custom-build plots in Buckinghamshire.

The register is not a public document.

We will:

• inform you when plots become available and upload the plot information onto the website
• publish an annual headlines report every March. It will cover a base period between 31 October and 30 October the following year
• contact everyone on the register when the annual report becomes available
• send out annual reminders to confirm whether you want to remain on the registers

We're committed to protecting your privacy when you use our services. For more details see how we use and protect your information.

If you would like to find out more about self and custom build, the National Custom & Self Build Association (NaCSBA) has a self-build portal and there is a lot of useful information on the Right to build toolkit.