Graven Hill Plots Go On Sale & Other News

Graven Hill plots go on sale

Following a six-week priority period for local residents, the first 10 plots at Graven Hill, the UK’s largest custom build scheme, have been released for sale nationally. Prices for the sites include the plot, foundations and a 10-year structural warranty for the finished dwelling. Guide prices for the first batch, which consists of 10 detached homes located near the centre of the 1,900-plot development, range from £134,500 to £178,500 for three and five-bedroom opportunities. For more information, check out gravenhill.org.uk.

£175,000

…is the amount of money people can now borrow from the Scottish government’s £4 million Highland Self-Build Loan Fund. Originally, the loans were capped at £150,000 but this has been increased to facilitate growth in the nation’s self-build sector. “This is an important opportunity to address the lending difficulties experienced by households looking to create their own homes,” says Kevin Stewart, the Scottish housing minister. Visit hscht.co.uk for further information.

How to avoid cowboy builders

New research published by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) reveals that one in 10 homeowners are left unhappy with the outcome of tradespeople’s efforts on their home improvement projects. The most prevalent reasons for dissatisfaction included poor workmanship (49%), overrunning costs (27%) and delays (23%). The FMB (fmb.org.uk) has released its top tips for ensuring you hire a reputable pro online.

Ministers to simplify planning process

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has announced that it will forge ahead with measures to streamline Neighbourhood Plans (NPs) so that local views are channelled into policy decisions more quickly. NPs allow residents and businesses within the community to have a say in how their local area will be developed, and this could include the possibility of identifying new sites for self and custom build opportunities. However, it can be difficult to get these adopted and accounted for in councils’ Local Plans in a timely manner. Rules to speed up procedures for new NP applications will take effect in October 2016, while changes to restructure the process for existing NPs currently remain under discussion.