About
Free advice and Information
Potton has constructed thousands of self build homes and are experts in within the sector. Potton are the UK’s only permanent Self Build Show Centre and Self-Build Academy based in St Neots Cambridgeshire where we provide a wide range of training courses. The Centre is open Tuesday to Friday 9am to 5pm, and Saturday 10am to 4pm.
As part of our service we can provide local planning authorities with our experienced advice of how to successfully prepare a deliverable section 106 agreement. Helping the local planning authority to provide sufficient plots to meet the demands on their register.
Site layout, Design Code & Plot Passports
For sites being delivered directly by local planning authorities, or for developers looking to apply for planning permission, we will create an efficient layout on their behalf making sure plots are desirable to plot purchasers who are looking to build their own home. This also includes ensuring that homes can be constructed when plots at either side have already commenced or are habited.
We create a comprehensive design code referencing the custom build parcel in context to the main site design code and site-wide conditions. While preparing and creating a plot passport for every individual plot.
Each plot passport produced by us applies the guidance of the design code to each individual plot. The plot passport identifies extent of ownership, garden and build zones, driveway and parking areas, landscape requirements, primary frontage, and boundary treatments plus many other details.
Small Sites Programmes and VAT
These can be the easiest to deal with and also the hardest.
Small brownfield ‘one-off’ plots, derelict garages or infill plots require careful consideration. Any professional fees incurred during the preparation for sale of these sites will incur VAT and as local authorities have a complicated VAT system it is not possible to charge VAT if the plot is being sold to an individual for them to build a home.
At Potton Custom Build we have a simple solution for dealing with this. We are able to purchase the plots from the local authority and in turn they are able to reclaim the VAT. In addition, to safeguarding the local vernacular, making sure the correct type of home is constructed and befitting of the location, we provide a range of services to the LPA and the plot purchaser.
Top Tips for Local Authorities in creating S106 agreements or % plot allocations
- Provide developers with a list of custom build enablers to help deliver custom build to site. – The Right to Build task force keeps and maintains a list of companies that provide this range of services.
- Ask developers to provide evidence that they have been actively working to incorporate custom build within their sites to help monitor and assess the data.
- Make sure the developer’s marketing strategy is effective, and in particular, the duration is sufficiently long enough.
- Make sure plots are priced competitively for people to purchase and they are visible via online searches.
- Assess the developer’s marketing strategy
- Which Enablers have the Developers approached?
- Which Estate Agent(s) are they using?
- Are the plots visible when searched for?
- Make sure that the plot purchaser has primary input into the design right from the outset. Making minor amendments to house designs is not considered self-build or custom building.