Do you want to build your own home? If so, we want to find out how much interest there is across Calderdale. To do this we keep a register of those who want to build their own homes.
We also want landowners and developers to identify sites that could be suitable.
The register is used to match those who want a self-build project with landowners who have plots of land.
Proposals for self-builds must have a formal planning application and are subject policies set out in our Local Plan.
For more advice and information, visit: Self Build Portal (NaCSBA).
What self-build housing is
Self-build
You organise the design and construction of your own home. Below are some of options:
- Self-build one-off homes. You manage the design and construction process. You are also involved in part or all of the construction of your home.
- Contractor-built one-off homes. You manage the design process and appoint a contractor to build the home to your specification.
- Kit homes. You select your preferred kit home and possibly establish the foundations. The kit home company then erects the home.
- Independent community collaboration. You work with others to get a site, split into plots and then sort the design and construction.
Custom build
You work with a specialist developer to deliver your own home, such as:
- Developer-built one-off home: A developer builds a single home that the self-builder completes.
- Developer-led group project: A developer organises a group then builds homes that the self-builders complete.
How to find a plot
If you join our register, it helps us to understand the need for self-build plots in the Borough. This is so the Council can permit sufficient permissions to meet this need. It also provides evidence to developers to support inclusion of self and custom build in their developments.
Note: The register does not directly provide plots of land for self and custom build. Plots are often registered with local estate agents and on websites such as:
People on the register will be informed when a site is given outline planning permission. They will also be notified when a site is submitted to our Register of Land.
Planning Policy
All proposals need a formal planning application and are subject to all relevant planning policies. We must give suitable permission to enough plots to meet demand in the borough. That figure is informed by the number of entries on the register. The Calderdale Local Plan (adopted March 2023) includes a policy to encourage self and custom housebuilding. Policy HS5 states:
- The Council will actively seek to promote and support sites for self-build and custom housebuilding on:
- Land allocations in the Local Plan.
- Other sites that might come forward during the Plan period where other material considerations indicate that support is appropriate.
- For sites of 100 dwellings or more. We look to have 5% of total capacity as serviced plots for self or custom build need. For this, we use the latest information in the register (see below).
- Applications for self and custom housebuilding on serviced plots should comply with other relevant Local Plan policies. This applies to large sites (100 dwellings or more) and other sites that come forward during the Plan period.
- A marketing strategy should be submitted as part of the proposal to establish the type, extent and duration of marketing. An information pack should provided to us to be distributed to appropriate people on the register.
Policy HS5 applies to all sites allocated for 100 or more dwellings and windfall sites above that threshold.
Site locations
| Local Plan site reference | Location | Size in hectares (ha) | Indicative Developable Area (ha) | Indicative Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LP0032 | Land at the former Crosslee PLC, Brighouse Road, Hipperholme. | 10.891 | 8.56 | 188 |
| LP1170 | Mulcture Hall Road, Halifax. | 3.23 | 1.54 | 131 |
| LP0571 | Site to the rear of 9A Birds Royd Lane, Brighouse. | 0.50 | 0.39 | 100 |
| LP1077 | Southedge Quarry, Brighouse Road, Hipperholme. | 13.04 | 6.66 | 174 |
| LP1078 | Land between Dewsbury Road and New Hey Road, Rastrick. | 10.57 | 5.12 | 267 |
| LP1451 | Land between Bradley Wood & Woodhouse Lane, Rastrick, Brighouse. | 63.00 | 44.76 | 1,257 |
| LP1463 | Land between Highmoor Lane and Bradford Road, Brighouse. | 140.44 | 105.15 | 1,998 |
| LP0177 | Land adjacent Ellistones Place, Saddleworth Road, Greetland. | 6.03 | 5.83 | 175 |
| LP0952 | Land at New Gate Farm, Saddleworth Road, Greetland. | 10.63 | 8.70 | 286 |
| LP0978 | Land off Lower Edge Road/Shaw Lane, Elland. | 8.28 | 8.28 | 248 |
| LP1567 | Land adjacent Exley Lane, North of Elland. | 20.54 | 15.46 | 450 |
| LP0523 | Land at Furness Avenue, Illingworth. | 3.45 | 3.45 | 158 |
| LP0531 | Land off Whitehill Road, Keighley Road, Illingworth. | 7.16 | 4.33 | 127 |
| LP1229 | Near Royd, Ovenden. | 16.62 | 15.74 | 562 |
| LP1409 | Wood Lane, Off Ovenden Wood Road, Wheatley. | 4.31 | 3.62 | 109 |
| LP1425 | Land South of Phoebe Lane, Siddal. | 3.29 | 2.28 | 105 |
| LP1429 | Former St Catherine's High School, Holdsworth Road, Holmfield. | 2.75 | 2.75 | 108 |
| LP0766 | Land off Hall Lane, Northowram. | 5.81 | 3.83 | 149 |
| LP0782 | Land off Cock Hill Lane, Shelf. | 5.85 | 4.67 | 141 |
| LP1034 | Land off Soaper Lane, Shelf. | 2.92 | 2.92 | 100 |
| LP1543 | Land North and North West of Wade House Road, Shelf. | 11.15 | 11.01 | 290 |
| LP0044 | Cemetery Lane, Lower Bentley Royd, Sowerby Bridge. | 2.94 | 2.94 | 112 |
We have adopted a Self and Custom Build Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), to:
- manage the process by which developers will be expected to deliver self-build housing plots;
- and to guide Council officers in decision making.
It includes planning obligations to ensure delivery on large sites. The SPD was adopted in November 2023.
Note for housebuilders
The Self and Custom Build Housing SPD refers in section 6.15 to plots being made 'available' for marketing prior to the occupation of 50% of the total dwellings.
In the above, 'available' means they can be marketed at any time after planning permission. For example, being sold off-plan rather than having to be built first.
The Marketing Strategy can be attached to the outline application so that marketing can commence once planning has been approved
The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register
We must keep a register of those who seek to acquire serviced plots of land. For details, visit: Self Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015.
The register's main purpose is to give us information on the demand for this type of housing in the Borough. If you register, you do not commit yourself to a self or custom build.
We cannot guarantee a plot of land will become available to you, if you join the register. We will keep you informed of relevant information and opportunities that could be of interest.
We will not publish the register. However, at times we will publish anonymous headline data from it in our monitoring reports.
How to express your interest
It is free and anyone can join the register, if you are:
- aged over 18;
- and a British citizen, a national of an EEA State other than the United Kingdom or a national of Switzerland;
- and want a serviced plot of land to build a house to occupy as your sole or main home.
When we receive your completed form, we will:
- Determine if you are eligible to be included on the register within 28 days.
- Make an entry on the register and let you know that this has been done, in writing.
- If the application is not eligible, we will write to you to explain the reasons within 28 days of the decision.
For applications from associations, we only notify the lead contact if it is accepted or not.
Anyone on the register can have their details removed or amended if they submit a request in writing to us.
Monitoring
We must grant enough planning permission for self-builds to meet the demand shown on the register. (This is over a rolling three-year period.) Below are annual reports that show how we have performed.
Register of Land
We invite the submission of sites that could be suitable for self or custom builds. This lets us know how much land there is in Calderdale for these builds. It can also be shared with people on the register.
To register a plot of land that may be suitable, please complete the form below. If you do not own the land, make sure you have permission from the landowner before you submit the details.
Self-build site submission form
In terms of promoting sites, not all sites will be considered acceptable for development of self-builds. Regard should be had to the policies of the Calderdale Local Plan. In particular, those that address settlement hierarchies and the Green Belt.