Self Build and Custom Housebuilding

Self-Build Housing Register Form

What is Self-build and Custom Housebuilding?

Self-build is where you organise and design the construction of your home. This could be:

self-build one-off home: you manage the design and construction process and are physically involved in part or all of the construction of your home
contractor built one-off home: you manage the design process and appoint a contractor to build the home to your specification
kit home: 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 acquire a site to split into plots, then organise the design and construction of your own home
supported community self-build group: a social landlord or the Community Self Build Agency helps you build a group of homes together.

Custom build is where you work with a specialist developer to deliver your own home. The developer may help to find a plot, manage the construction, but the home is tailored to your requirements.

Both self-build and custom housebuilding can be done individually or with others as part of a group.

The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register

The Self Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 requires relevant authorities, including District Councils, to keep a register of individuals and associations of individuals who are seeking to acquire serviced plots of land for self-build and custom housebuilding. The definition and operation of the register is set out in the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Regulations 2016.

The Register will be split into two parts:

Part 1: those who meet all eligibility criteria, including the local connection test and financial solvency test.
Part 2: those who meet all eligibility criteria except from the local connection test.

The Council has a duty to grant planning permissions for the number of entries on Part 1 of the Register. But the Council does not need to give planning permission to specifically meet the requirements of each person on the register. It will also inform the production of any future Local Plan.

The Self Build Position Statement gives more information about the demand and supply for self-build in Bassetlaw.

How to apply to be on the Register

To register, each individual and every member of a group/association must meet the following eligibility criteria:

You must be aged 18 or over
You must be a British citizen, a national of an EEA State other than the United Kingdom, or a national of Switzerland; and
You must want to acquire a serviced plot of land in Bassetlaw to build a house to occupy as your sole or main home.

In addition you must meet the following local connection criteria and financial solvency criteria below to be entered onto Part 1 of the register:

Local connection test

Each individual or every member of a group/ association must meet one of the following criteria:

You have lived in the district as your main place of residence for the last 3 consecutive years; or
You have been permanently employed in Bassetlaw for the last 3 years; or
You have lived in the district as your main place of residence for at least 5 out of the last fifteen years and have close family, defined as parents/legal guardians, siblings and or adult children, who have lived in the district as their main place of residence for the last consecutive five years; or
You are a serving member of the Armed Forces of the Crown, or are spouses, or civil partners of current members of the Armed Forces of the Crown, or are spouses, or civil partners of a deceased member of the Armed Forces of the Crown (if their death was wholly or partly caused by their service) or are veterans within five years of leaving the Armed Forces.

You will only be eligible if you can provide the following:

Proof of address and residence:

UK Provisional/Full Driving Licence
Council tax bills (showing residence over time)
Utility bills or bank statements from the current year
TV Licence from the current year

Proof of employer/employment status:

Current employment contract showing permanent employment
A letter from your employer on headed paper showing start date

Financial Solvency Test

Each individual or every member of a group/association must demonstrate that you will have sufficient resources to purchase land and build your own self-build/ custom build home within 3 years of planning permission being granted.

Evidence for the financial solvency may include but is not limited to:

An offer for a self-build mortgage from a verifiable lender and written evidence from a qualified financial advisor that is a member of an appropriate professional financial body.
Proof of savings/readily accessible funds/investments/equity to purchase land and build a self-build and custom property, including written evidence from a qualified financial advisor.

Self Build Register application process

After your submission, the Council will contact you in writing within 28 working days to let you know if you qualify for Part 1 or Part 2 of the Register.

Applicants that have been unsuccessful for entry onto Part 1 of the Register will be notified and reasons will be given why they are not considered eligible.
Individuals will only be eligible for Part 1 of the register if you meet the Council’s local eligibility criteria including the local connection test and the financial solvency test.

A group/association will only be eligible for Part 1 of the register if each member of the association meets all the local eligibility criteria set out above.

All individuals or groups/associations that do not meet the local eligibility criteria will be eligible for Part 2 of the register.

Payment of the relevant fee will then be requested within 14 working days. If payment is not received you will not be entered onto the register.

Duplicate applications will not be processed.

Please contact selfbuild@bassetlaw.gov.uk and 01909 533495 if you have any issues with the application process.

Self Build Fees

The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding (Time for Compliance and Fees) Regulations 2016 allows the Council to introduce a fee to cover administration costs for maintaining the Register. This includes an annual renewal fee to remain on the Register.

Fees for individuals

Part 1:

Joining fee: £105
Annual renewal cost: £84

Part 2:

Joining fee: £68
Annual renewal cost: £54

Fees for associations/groups

Part 1:

Joining fee: £210
Annual renewal cost: £168

Part 2:

Joining fee: £136
Annual renewal cost: £109

How to register

To register your interest in self-build and custom house-building in Bassetlaw, please complete the following form:

Self-Build Housing Register Form

Routes into self-build and custom homes:

The following resources may help in assisting you with your self-build or custom build project:

Last Updated on Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Self-Build Housing Register Form