Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register

Hastings' Self-build and custom housebuilding register is divided into two parts:

• Part 1 keeps track of local demand for self-build and custom housebuilding which must be met via the grant of sufficient development permissions for serviced plots of land.
• Part 2 keeps track of general demand for self-build and custom build, with no requirement to grant sufficient development permissions for serviced plots of land to meet this demand.

You do not need to be on the register to build your own home or find a plot. There is no preferential treatment of people who are on the register at planning application stage.

The council maintains its own list to act as the official self-build and custom housebuilding register for Hastings. Please note that the council does not currently recognise registration on any other list as an expression of interest in self-build and custom build in Hastings. Interest in self-build and custom build in Hastings will only be gauged using the council’s own list noted above.

You can apply to join the Hastings register by Our online self-build register application form and paying the processing fee.

Eligibility for Part 1 or Part 2 of the register is dependent on submission of appropriate information required by regulations and to address local eligibility conditions. Local eligibility conditions include:

• a requirement to demonstrate a ‘local connection’, which applies to all applications for Part 1 of the register (an exception applies to persons in the service, or who have been in recent service of, the regular armed forces of the Crown); and
• a requirement to demonstrate sufficient financial resources to purchase land, which applies to Parts 1 and 2 of the register.

Legislation under the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Regulations 2016 allow for local authorities to set criteria whereby only individuals and organisations who submit evidence of local connections and who submit details demonstrating they have sufficient resources to purchase land for their own self-build and custom housebuilding projects are eligible for entry onto Part 1 of the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register.

Applicants must provide evidence that they are:

• aged 18 years or over
• a British citizen, a national of a European Economic Area country other than the United Kingdom or a national of Switzerland
• Able to pay the processing fee

To demonstrate a local connection, Applicants must:

• have lived in the Hastings Borough for 3 of the last 5 years or
• have close relatives (mother, father, sister, brother, adult children or corresponding step relations) who have lived in the Borough for the last 5 years or
• have been in permanent employment of at least 16 hours per week in the Borough or have a confirmed offer of such
• been or are currently a member of the armed services. Former armed service personnel need to have been out of the service for less than 5 years. Armed services personnel meeting this criteria automatically satisfy the local connections test.

Evidence required:

• signed legal document confirming the lead member of the group can act on your behalf and supply your personal information to us (if applicable)
• utility or council tax bill, bank statement or tenancy agreement in the applicants name showing residency in Hastings for 3 of the last 5 years or
• name and address of family member and proof of relationship to applicant such as birth certificate, marriage certificate and any one of the following: utility or council tax bill, bank statement or tenancy agreement in the family member name showing at least 5 years living in Hastings Borough or
• contract of employment, letter from employer or confirmation of an offer of work stating place of work and hours in your or a member of your households name or
• proof of employment in the armed forces via your certificate of service, copy of military service record or discharge from service record.

To demonstrate sufficient resources to purchase land, applicants must:

• identify the approximate amount of land needed to accommodate their self-build including the unit type. For example 217m2/0.0535 acre, 3 bedroom detached house
• identify an approximate cost for this amount of land within the desired area of search providing confirmation of this land value. For example £xxx,xxx in xxx ward
• provide information about how the project will be funded. This should confirm details of savings equivalent or greater than the approximate land value available for the purchasing of the self-build plot and/or detail of an in-principle bank loan agreement for the purchasing of the land for your project.

Evidence required

• Current comparable sales figures or confirmation from a registered valuer of the land value and
• Bank of Building Society account statements or
• offers of self build mortgage from a verified lender or
• evidence and written support from a qualified financial advisor with membership of an appropriate body
• signed legal document confirming the lead member of the group can act on your behalf and supply your personal financial information to us (if applicable).

Our online self-build register application form allows you to upload these details at relevant points.

Legislation under the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Regulations 2016 allow for local authorities to set criteria whereby only individuals and organisations who submit details demonstrating they have sufficient resources to purchase land for their own self-build and custom housebuilding projects are eligible for entry onto Part 2 of the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register.

Applicants must provide evidence that they are:

• aged 18 years or over
• a British citizen, a national of a European Economic Area country other than the United Kingdom or a national of Switzerland
• Able to pay the processing fee

To demonstrate sufficient resources to purchase land, applicants must:

• identify the approximate amount of land needed to accommodate their self-build including the unit type. For example 217m2/0.0535 acre, 3 bedroom detached house
• identify an approximate cost for this amount of land within the desired area of search providing confirmation of this land value. For example £xxx,xxx in xxx ward
• provide information about how the project will be funded. This should confirm details of savings equivalent or greater than the approximate land value available for the purchasing of the self-build plot and/or detail of an in-principle bank loan agreement for the purchasing of the land for your project.

Evidence required:

• Current comparable sales figures or confirmation from a registered valuer of the land value and
• Bank of Building Society account statements or
• offers of self build mortgage from a verified lender or
• evidence and written support from a qualified financial advisor with membership of an appropriate body
• signed legal document confirming the lead member of the group can act on your behalf and supply your personal financial information to us (if applicable)

Our online self-build register application form allows you to upload these details at relevant points.

Yes. There is a processing fee of £100 to be paid the first time you apply to be on the register, and a subsequent renewal fee to remain on Part 1 of the register. This fee covers the processing of applications, including financial due diligence.

Absolutely. The register is a measure of demand and does not offer any special treatment or status to members, just remember when you apply for planning permission to tell us you are custom or self-building.

You can be on as many self-build registers as you like. Other self-build registers in East Sussex include:

• Rother self-build register
• Lewes, Eastbourne and South Downs National Park self-build register
• Wealden self-build register

Yes. To be placed on Part 1 of the register, groups or associations will need to provide local connection and financial evidence for all members of the group, as well as evidence that the person submitting the application may submit this information on their behalf. Each member of the group must also pay the processing fee.

Under the provision of the self-build and custom housebuilding (register) regulations 2016 in order to join the Register you must:

• be aged 18 years or over
• be a British citizen, a national of a European Economic Area country other than the United Kingdom or a national of Switzerland
• be seeking (either alone or with others) to acquire a serviced plot of land in the Hastings Borough for your own self-build or custom housebuilding project
• pay the processing fee
• If you do not meet these criteria, you are not eligible to be on the register

We will confirm whether or not you have been placed onto the custom and self-build register once we have undertaken the due diligence on the information you have supplied. We may be in contact with you from time to time after that with updates about self-build and custom build. We will keep the register under review and update it at least annually when we will ask for confirmation of your continued interest in building in the borough to ensure the register remains accurate, and collect any renewal fees associated with this.

Please note that the register will not be made public, although the council may report headline data in it’s Local Plan Monitoring Report and on the website. All data will be processed in accordance with our Planning Policy privacy notice.

Hastings has severe pressures on land available for development. With a limited supply of land and competing development needs, finding additional plots of land in the borough that can be specifically used for self-building is likely to be very challenging. Nevertheless, the data collected through the register will be used to help inform the overall need for housing in the borough.

Further support and information for self-build or custom build projects is available from the Government websites:

• The Self Build Portal
• National Custom and Self Build Association
• Right to build task force

Coming soon.