Council backing self-built homes in Brighton

9:30am Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

The public is being urged to build the city out of the housing crisis.

Brighton and Hove City Council wants to help those inspired by the TV show Grand Designs to create their dream home.

The local authority said it was looking at good examples of “self- built” homes and would be “very supportive” of planning applications from DIY-ers.

A council spokesman said “advice would be given” and added the council was likely to be “sympathetic” at planning meetings.

He said small patches of land, which bigger developers were not keen on buying, were perfect for self-built homes.

It added that “Grand Design” homes were factored into the city’s housing strategy.

The spokesman said: “We are open to exploring with funders, individuals and local communities where there are appropriate sites and there have been good examples of this in recent years including those features on the TV show ‘Grand Designs’.

“It is more challenging where construction is more complex, such as with flatted development, and we will need to be mindful of making the most of every site in terms of the homes we can produce for the city, such as sites which have good public transport links and can sustain higher densities of housing.

“That said, custom builds are part of the housing supply picture for the city.”

In a report to be presented to a housing committee meeting, the council wrote: “In identifying vacant sites with development potential, we will consider whether there are any opportunities which could be offered for self-builds rather than council housing.”

There are currently a number of self-built, eco-style homes in Brighton and Hove.

Jason Thawley and his partner Sarah built their own home in Hartington Road, Elm Grove, Brighton.

Mr Thawley said: “I studied engineering at university so I’ve always been interested in putting stuff together.

“We were looking for some- where affordable to live and I had been experimenting with eco- friendly products at work, so decided to draw up some plans.”

Comments(12)

Skidrow says...
9:47am Mon 4 Mar 13

Oh Good, that'll solve the housing crisis.

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Phani Tikkala says...
10:31am Mon 4 Mar 13

Haha, suggest doing anything out of the ordinary to a non-descript and unremarkable terraced house in Brighton and the planners will turn it down as being "out of keeping with the local surroundings"

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bug eye says...
10:39am Mon 4 Mar 13

Try telling this to the planning department as not my experience. very unhelpful and obstructive towards anything that does not look like everything else. I think we can all see whether a contemporary build is of quality or not and interesting despite personal taste, clearly we do not want self build flimsy barratt style homes, but grand designs, yes please
.
This policy should also be the case for extensions an loft conversions, grand designs can look great on a traditional home, and would encourage larger homes for the 21st century way of life, and boost the economy.

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HJarrs says...
10:49am Mon 4 Mar 13

This change of attitude is good news. The big housebuilders have let us down too often with poor design and shoddy quality. However, development should be at high density.

I would like to build B&H's first plus house if I could find some land.

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Angie Wright says...
12:18pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Self build homes were popular in late 50s early 60s.When groups of about 20 men got together with various building skills to build 20 houses. It enabled my parents to get out of their council house in Woodingdean (plenty then!) and into a nice semi- detatched bungalow for a very low price as the 20 or so men did all the work themselves.. There were about 4 groups building on Wilson Avenue to replace all the prefabs.The houses are still standing so well made. It might make the professional builders think twice about their high prices and it certainly makes the houses affordable for young families even though it was hard work for my father for the 2 years it took to complete all the houses. ( doing 20 hours on the site on top of his 40 hours normal job)

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Cass says...
1:13pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Of course they will agree if it gets them on the map as doing it FIRST, I would like to know why the council would choose to sell off properties for others to refurbish and sell when there is a shortage, at ridiculously reduced price compared to what could have been achieved.
As to eco homes, I've yet to see one that is comparable to their surroundings. You only have to look at the blocks being constructed around Brighton, Hollingdean Road is a prime example. The council agreed that monstrosity,does it mean anything will be acceptable?

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RottingdeanRant says...
1:26pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Cass wrote:
Of course they will agree if it gets them on the map as doing it FIRST, I would like to know why the council would choose to sell off properties for others to refurbish and sell when there is a shortage, at ridiculously reduced price compared to what could have been achieved.
As to eco homes, I've yet to see one that is comparable to their surroundings. You only have to look at the blocks being constructed around Brighton, Hollingdean Road is a prime example. The council agreed that monstrosity,does it mean anything will be acceptable?
Please tell me where I can buy one of these houses 'at ridiculously reduced price’. Furthermore, it would be pretty difficult to build a modern house, in terms of its looks, to fit in with the jaded 1880s properties of most of Brighton. I would far prefer that we build modern in both style and standards. Look to Lewes for what appears to be a much more progressive view.

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lillylou says...
5:05pm Mon 4 Mar 13

what if your not a builder and are skint can we make mudhuts???

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rolivan says...
7:36pm Mon 4 Mar 13

RottingdeanRant wrote:
Cass wrote:
Of course they will agree if it gets them on the map as doing it FIRST, I would like to know why the council would choose to sell off properties for others to refurbish and sell when there is a shortage, at ridiculously reduced price compared to what could have been achieved.
As to eco homes, I've yet to see one that is comparable to their surroundings. You only have to look at the blocks being constructed around Brighton, Hollingdean Road is a prime example. The council agreed that monstrosity,does it mean anything will be acceptable?
Please tell me where I can buy one of these houses 'at ridiculously reduced price’. Furthermore, it would be pretty difficult to build a modern house, in terms of its looks, to fit in with the jaded 1880s properties of most of Brighton. I would far prefer that we build modern in both style and standards. Look to Lewes for what appears to be a much more progressive view.
The mention of Lewes reminded me of the construction of the Cuilfail Tunnel which required the exhuming of bodies buried there,With the Brighton and Hove Cemeteries taking up so much land would it not be feasable to do something with the land.I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Majority of Graves belong to persons who have not been attended in years.The City desperately needs land for Affordable Accommodation this would give the Council the Opportunity to build Hundreds if not thousands of Houses.I am sure the Council owns some property on the outskirts of the City where those that were exhumed could be reburied,I have immediate family and Ancestors buried and ashes scattered throughout the City and it wouldn't concern Me if I thought that it would help solve the Housing crisis.After all life is for the living.

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
10:45pm Mon 4 Mar 13

HJarrs stick to being a mum and building space ships from egg boxes. We already have enough jerry built properties thrown up by amateur landlords without you watching Readers Digest DVDs on home improvements.

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redwing says...
10:33am Tue 5 Mar 13

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
HJarrs stick to being a mum and building space ships from egg boxes. We already have enough jerry built properties thrown up by amateur landlords without you watching Readers Digest DVDs on home improvements.
Wish I was nasty enough to tell you to keep yourself busy elsewhere too, sometimes.

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thevoiceoftruth says...
10:50am Wed 6 Mar 13

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
HJarrs stick to being a mum and building space ships from egg boxes. We already have enough jerry built properties thrown up by amateur landlords without you watching Readers Digest DVDs on home improvements.
Quite right. There's plenty of 'land' on the carpet in the living room where she can play with stickle bricks and lego.

Just shows how much money this person has - and why they are so out of touch with ordinary working folk. Wish I could afford to buy some land and build my own grand design!

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