Issue - meetings

In accordance with the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (‘the Act’), since the 1 January 2016, Waverley has kept a register of individuals and associations who wish to acquire a serviced plot for their own self-build or custom housebuilding project.

The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Regulations 2016 (‘the Regulations’) require Councils to grant sufficient planning permissions to meet the demand for plots shown in their self-build and custom housebuilding registers. In order to ensure that registers provide a realistic indication of local demand, the Regulations enable Councils to control entry by imposing a local connection test, a financial test and also introducing a fee for joining and being on the register.

The report recommends that Members approve the introduction of additional eligibility criteria and fee for entry onto and remaining on the Waverley Borough Council Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register (‘the SB & CH Register’). This report also recommends that members agree to make provision in the Council’s Scheme of Delegation to ensure that the requirements of the Act and its accompanying regulations are met. This will be addressed as part of the review of the Scheme of Delegation which will be presented to the Standards Panel in January 2018.

Recommendation

It is recommended that approval be given to:

1.    the introduction of a local connection test as additional eligibility criteria for being entered on either Part 1 or Part 2 of SB & CH Register;

2.    the introduction of a set charging fee of £25 for applicants wishing to gain entry onto the SB & CH Register; and

3.    the introduction of an annual set fee of £10 to be charged for each base period that the applicant remains on the SB & CH Register with effect from 31 October 2018.

RESOLVED that

1.    the introduction of a local connection test as additional eligibility criteria for being entered on either Part 1 or Part 2 of the Self-Build & Custom Housebuilding (SB & CH) Register be approved;

2.    the introduction of a set charging fee of £25 for applicants wishing to gain entry onto the SB & CH Register be approved; and

3.    the introduction of an annual set fee of £10 to be charged for each base period that the applicant remains on the SB & CH Register with effect from 31 October 2018.

[Reason: to seek approval for the introduction of additional criteria and fee for entry onto and remaining on the register]