For many people in England, building a home that fits their needs, priorities and personal style is a lifelong dream. Some of the biggest challenges to fulfilling those dreams are finding the right site and dealing with the planning system.
The Right to Build legislation was created to help self-builders overcome those issues, but what does it actually mean for you, and how do you sign up? Here’s a simple explanation.
What is the Right to Build legislation?
The Right to Build derives from the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015, which was later reinforced by additional regulations and planning policies. This law requires local planning authorities in England to keep track of how many people want to build their own homes and to make sure there are enough serviced plots with access and utilities to meet that demand.
Put simply, the law says:
- Local authorities must maintain a “Right to Build Register” that lists those who want to build their own homes.
- Councils must consider this demand when planning land use, housing strategies and land disposal.
- They must also grant planning permissions for a sufficient number of plots to reflect the number of people on their registers, typically aiming to match demand within a three-year period.
For self-builders, this law provides a way to show there is real demand. In theory, it also makes it easier to create new land opportunities that might not have been available before.
Why it matters to self-builders
If you are thinking about building a custom home, the Right to Build law is a useful tool, even though it does not guarantee you will get a plot easily. Here’s why it’s useful:
- It creates a formal “hook” for demand data: your registered interest helps councils understand how many people want to build their own homes locally and ideally drives more plot permissions.
- It can influence local planning and land-use decisions: registers are something councils must take into account when preparing local plans and housing strategies.
- It strengthens your voice: joining a register shows developers and planners there is real demand for self and custom build homes in a specific area. Many self-builders use registration data in plot searches and negotiations.
However, not everyone knows about the Right to Build, and some councils have been criticised for adding barriers like fees, extra eligibility checks or not granting enough planning permissions. Many self-builders still need to stay informed and, at times, challenge councils that are not meeting their responsibilities.
How to register for the Right to Build
Registering is simple, but you should follow the correct steps. You do not need to own land or have planning permission before you register. In fact, it is often best to register early in your planning process.
Here’s how you do it:
1. Check Eligibility
To register under Right to Build in England, you generally must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Be a British citizen, an EEA national (excluding the UK) or a Swiss national
- Be seeking to acquire a serviced plot in that local authority area to build a home you will occupy as your main residence (not a holiday home or rental investment)
- Keep in mind that councils may ask for documents to prove you are eligible, such as proof of identity or your address.
2. Find the Right Register
Every relevant local authority in England must keep its own Right to Build register, and often you can:
- Find the register via the local council’s website (planning or housing section).
- Search via a Right to Build portal such as the Right to Build Register hosted by NaCSBA or similar services that help you locate multiple local registers quickly. You can register with more than one authority if you’re open to building in different areas.
- You can register with more than one authority if you’re open to building in different areas.
3. Complete the application
Typically you’ll be required to:
- Provide contact details (name, address, email).
- Confirm your eligibility criteria.
- Indicate whether you’re an individual or part of a group (e.g. a community self-build).
- Give details on the type of plot or home you hope to build.
- Some councils charge a small registration fee, but the rules say this fee should be reasonable and only cover costs, not discourage people from applying.
4. Wait for confirmation
After you send in your form, the council should reply, usually within 28 days, to confirm you are on their register. If there is a problem, they should explain why and let you know if you can fix it.
What happens next?
Being on the Right to Build register does not mean you will automatically get a plot, but it does mean:
- Your demand is formally recorded with the local authority
- Planning policy makers and land teams must consider that demand
- Your data could be used to unlock planning permissions for serviced plots
- Many self-builders also use third-party platforms, plot-finding services and personal networking to find sites.
