What are self-build homes?
A self-build home allows the future residents to organise the home's design and construction. This could involve independently employing an architect and builder.
What are custom-build homes?
Custom-build homes are generally those where an individual or group of individuals works with a specialist developer to help deliver homes. The developer may identify a plot of land, manage construction and provide financial assistance.
What is community-led housing or group building?
You work with others to acquire a site to split up into plots, then organise the design and construction of your own home. This will usually be supported by an enabler such as a specialist developer or housing association. Cohousing and Community Land Trusts are examples of community-led housing.
Self and custom build register
The Self Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 places a duty on councils to keep a register of eligible individuals and groups who are interested in self or custom build homes.
The register will help inform the Council of the level of demand for self-build and custom plots in Dartford.
Signing the register does not guarantee that a suitable plot will be identified and become available. We are not obliged to find plots that match your specific requirements so you may have to undertake your own research to identify a suitable plot (see Further Support below for more information).
Eligibility Criteria
Each individual applicant and every member of an association of individuals that applies for entry on the register must be:
- aged 18 or over;
- a British citizen, a national of an EEA state other than the UK or a national of Switzerland; and
- seeking (either alone or with others) to acquire a plot of land in the Dartford Borough area to build a house to occupy as that individuals sole or main residence. For entry onto Part 1 of the Register individual applicants and one member of an association must also meet at least one criteria of the local connection test below.
Local Connection Test
The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Regulations 2016 allow Local Planning Authorities to introduce a local connection test to their registers. Applicants who meet at least one of the following local connection test criterion will join Part 1 of the Register, providing they also meet the standard eligibility criteria:
- The applicant or partner has lived in the Borough of Dartford continuously for at least two years prior to application.
- They are serving members or ex service personnel of the Armed Forces.
All other applicants will join Part 2 of the Register. Only applicants on Part 1 of the Register will count towards the number of suitable serviced plots that the Council must grant development permission for.
Any proposals for self-build or custom-build housing will require a formal planning application and will be subject to all relevant planning policies, e.g. Green Belt restrictions. We have a Pre-Application Planning Advice service which we encourage you to use if you would like to discuss your self-build or custom-build proposal with us.
If you wish to apply, please complete the registration form and return a scanned copy to the email address on the form or return it by post to:
Housing Policy
Dartford Borough Council
Civic Centre
Home Gardens
Dartford
Kent
DA1 1DR
Please note that registration does not guarantee that a suitable plot will be identified, or become available for purchase. The Council will contact applicants with information on available plots as and when they arise.
Further Support
The Government has created a dedicated service and online resource for those who are interested in a self or custom build project:
National and Custom Build Association
Privacy Notice
We will use the information you provide to process your application to join the Dartford Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register. We will not share it with any third parties.
However, the Council may, from time to time, disclose information from the Register to other local authorities. This information will be used to determine the level of demand for self-build and custom housebuilding across our wider Housing Market Area. The Council may also publish anonymised headline data - such as the overall demand for self-build and custom build in Dartford. This does not include personal data.
In accordance with the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Regulations 2016, we store your information on the Register unless an individual or association submits a written request to be removed from the Register, or an entry is no longer eligible for the Register.