Self-build and custom house building register

What is self and custom built housing

Self-build - The initial homeowner has primary input into the final design and then builds their home on a vacant serviced plot of land.

Custom house building - An individual contracts a builder to design and construct a 'custom built' home for them.

Homes considered to be self or custom built must be the sole residence of the owner. For instance, it should not be used as a rental property or sold upon completion.

Self and custom build register

All local authorities are required by the Self-build and Custom house building Act 2015 to have a register.

West Suffolk Council holds a register of individuals and associations of individuals who are seeking to acquire serviced plots of land in the West Suffolk area.

The register enables us to gauge the level of demand for self-build and custom house building in the area. This demand informs our Local Plan policy SP20 Custom and Self-Build and the Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document.

Registration does not guarantee that a suitable plot will be identified but it means we know who is interested if and when serviced plots become available.

West Suffolk Council from October 2026 will introduce a two-part register.

Part one will be for those who have a local connection to the district.
Part two will be for those with no local connection.

Along with this West Suffolk Council will be introducing an annual £25 registration fee as permitted by Self-build and Custom house building Act 2015, this will cover the administration needed to maintain the register.

Those already registered will be informed of the introduction of this fee and will be required to re-register should they wish to remain on the register.

A reminder will be sent annually with a link to pay the annual registration fee.

The table below shows the number of people added to the register for each base period.

Please note: West Suffolk Council is aware the above figures differ from the government Delta returns, at present we are unable to change the published Delta figures, but we are working with Delta to amend them at the earliest opportunity.

The council has a duty to grant development permission to enough suitable serviced plots of land to meet the demand for self-build and custom house building in Part 1 of the register.  The level of demand is established by the number of entries in part one on the register during a base period. Each base period runs from 31 October to 30 October each year. At the end of each base period, the council has three years in which to permission an equivalent number of plots, as there are entries for that base period.

Entries on Part 2 do not count towards demand for the purpose of the 2015 Act but the council must have regard to the entries on Part 2 when carrying out its planning, housing, land disposal and regeneration functions.

Eligibility

The Government has set the rules about who can register. The same rules apply in all local authority areas. An individual is eligible for entry on the register if that individual:

• is aged 18 or older;
• is a British citizen, a national of an EEA State* other than the United Kingdom, or a national of Switzerland
• can satisfy any local eligibility conditions set by the relevant authority
• is a member of the armed forces as defined by Section 374 of Armed Forces Act 2006 or ex-services personnel
• has paid the £25 administration fee required to enter or remain on the register, and
• seeking (either alone or with others) to acquire a serviced plot of land in the relevant authority’s area to build a house to occupy as that individuals sole or main residence.

If the applicant is a group or an association, each member must fulfil the eligibility criteria.

Registering your interest

You can apply as an individual or as an association.

An association is a group of individuals including a body corporate that exercises functions on behalf of an association. Each member of the association is required to complete an association registration form.

If you are a couple or members of the same household wishing to build a single home, you only need to fill in one individual registration form in the name of one person.

If you would like to register your interest for a self-build or custom house building plot please complete the Custom or self-build registration questionnaire

More information

• West Suffolk Local Plan 2024-2041 (2025)
• West Suffolk Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (2026)

If you have any further queries about the registration, please contact us by email housing.development@westsuffolk.gov.uk

*EEA States