Self-build and custom housebuilding is housing built by individuals, or groups, for their own use, either by building the home on their own or by working with builders.
We are required by law to hold a register of people who are interested in self-build and custom housebuilding in Bedford Borough.
This register also includes people wanting to acquire serviced plots of land for self-build and custom housebuilding.
Read more about the self-build and custom housebuilding, legislation and the register:
We consider the register when carrying out our functions in relation to planning, housing, regeneration and the disposal of any land owned by the Council.
The register is not publicly available. Registration does not guarantee that a suitable plot to meet your specific needs will be made available.
To be included on the register you (and all the individuals in an association) must be:
To apply for your details to be placed on the self-build and custom housebuilding register, please download the attached form and send your completed form (and any supporting evidence requested) to housing.strategy@bedford.gov.uk.
The guidance notes for completing the forms are below.
Once we have received your completed application form we will email you to acknowledge receipt and, where applicable, to request clarification and/or further evidence. Please check your spam/junk email regularly for two weeks after applying to ensure that you do not miss any messages from us.
As of 26 March 2024, following the 2021 annual register update, the Bedford Borough Council self-build and custom housebuilding register consists of:
You can change or remove your details by emailing housing.strategy@bedford.gov.uk or writing to:
Housing Strategy Team
Bedford Borough Council
Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP
If you would like more information, view our how to obtain planning permission or obtain building regulations approval webpages.
As an Association, or group of self or custom builders (ie not from one household and requiring more than one plot), please complete the Association Lead Contact Registration and accompanying Association Members application form(s).
Please note that the purpose of the Register is to provide evidence about the scale of demand for self and custom build in the local authority area. Registration does not guarantee that a suitable plot to meet your specific needs will be made available.
For your Association’s details to be placed in Part 1 of the Register, each member must qualify as a Part 1 Registrant. If this is not the case, your Association’s details will be placed in Part 2 of the Register.
Where you are asked to tick boxes, a tick, a cross or a “Y” may be used.
An Association must elect a Lead Contact with whom the Council can discuss the Application and any other related self-build or custom housebuilding matters. The Lead Contact can then inform the rest of the Association of any matters raised.
The Lead Contact will complete the initial part of the Associations Application (Association Lead Contact Registration Form) and the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register Application Form – Lead Contact Association Member 1 form.
The Association’s other members should complete the remaining Association Members sections of this form (from Association Member 2 onwards) as applicable. Provision on this form is made for three additional members, but you may add more members as applicable (by copying the last form and renaming it Association Member 5, and onwards, ensuring that each member of the association has completed a form).
Parts A-J: Please enter your own personal details in this section as required.
Parts K-V: Please enter details as required relevant to the Association. If the address of the Association is the same as the Lead Contact’s, please do not complete Parts M-Q. If your answer to Part R is “N”, please move on to Part T.
Lead Contact must complete all applicable parts from 1a to the end of Section 9 as per the guidance below for ASSOCIATION MEMBERS 2 ONWARDS (where applicable)
For your details to be placed on the Register, you must meet all the criteria in Section 1 of the Application Form. You must tick 1a, at least one of the options at 1b, and 1c. If you are not able to make these confirmations your application will be rejected. We will not normally ask for evidence to be submitted in respect of 1a and 1b but reserve the right to do so.
For the Lead Contact, this section has been largely addressed in their “Lead Contact for the Association” form. All other applicants must complete 2a to 2d in this section so we can make contact with you.
A date of birth confirms that you are over 18 years of age (a legislative requirement for entry on the Register).
Please provide both an email address and phone number if you have them so that we have different ways of getting in touch if we need to clarify anything in relation to your application, ongoing registration or to give you information about self-build/custom build opportunities. We will not share or use your personal details for any other purpose.
In respect of 2e, it is helpful to know if you have registered your interest with other local authorities because currently there is no reliable information about the extent to which this is happening. The answer to this question will not affect the likelihood of you being notified about the availability of self-build/custom build plots in Bedford Borough.
The Register is held in two parts. In this section you can provide evidence to show that in addition to meeting the criteria in Section 1, you can evidence that you meet at least one of the local connection eligibility criteria (3a to 3d) below.
Those who evidence that they meet at least one of the eligibility criteria will be placed on Part 1 of the Register and will be given priority when self-build/custom build plots become available through the planning process.
You only need to tick one box (3a, 3b, 3c or 3d) to demonstrate your eligibility to join Part 1. Evidence should be in the form of photocopied or scanned documents (please do not send originals in the post). Official documentation other than that specifically stated may be acceptable in exceptional circumstances if it proves to the satisfaction of the Council that the criterion has been met. If you are genuinely unable to provide evidence in the form required please email the Housing Strategy Team at Housing.Strategy@bedford.gov.uk to seek further assistance.
Your completed form and copies of supporting documents should be returned to the address at the bottom of this guidance note.
Associations who qualify to go on the Register but cannot demonstrate that each member meets one of the local connection criteria will be entered on Part 2 of the Register.
Please provide either copied/scanned Council Tax bills, bank statements or utility bills showing your name and address and dates to evidence that you have lived in Bedford Borough for at least three of the last five years.
Close relatives are defined as mother, father, sister, brother, grandparents, grandchildren, adult children and corresponding step relations. Please provide copied/scanned Council Tax bills, bank statements or utility bills showing relative’s name and address to evidence that the close relative has lived in Bedford Borough for at least three of the last five years.
A household member is defined as an individual who lives as part of a family unit under one roof. Examples of acceptable evidence include:
Please provide a copy/scan of UK Military ID card MOD Form 90 as evidence.
In this section you can tell the Council where you would prefer to self/custom build your home. This information is only gathered so that the Council knows where there are areas of high demand. Your future plot purchase options will not be restricted to the areas you select in Section 4.
This section asks for information that will be helpful to those providing self/custom build opportunities. Please follow the instructions and tick only one box for sections 5b. 5c and 5e. For 5a and 5d, please tick all options that apply.
This section asks for information that will be helpful to those providing self/custom build opportunities. Please tick only one box. If you are unsure, please choose the most likely option.
This section asks for information that will be helpful to those providing self/custom build opportunities. It gives an indication of how financially prepared those on the Register are to commence their self/custom build project.
The ‘Any other comments’ box may be used to provide additional information relating to any of the sections on the form.
Please read the information about how we will use your data and confirm by placing a tick in the box that the information you have provided is accurate. Please sign and date the form (an electronic signature is acceptable).
Please return this form, attaching scanned copies of any supporting documents, to housing.strategy@bedford.gov.uk.
If you prefer you can print the form, complete a paper copy and send it, along with any photocopies of supporting documents, to:
Housing Strategy Team
4th Floor Borough Hall
Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP