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| DIY homes should be made easier, says housing minister | DIY homes should be made easier, says housing minister |
| (4 days later) | |
| By Kevin Peachey Personal finance reporter, BBC News | By Kevin Peachey Personal finance reporter, BBC News |
| Homeowners should not consider it a "pie in the sky dream" to build their own property, according to the new housing minister. | Homeowners should not consider it a "pie in the sky dream" to build their own property, according to the new housing minister. |
| Mark Prisk told mortgage lenders that self-built homes should be considered as one way to boost the UK housing market. | Mark Prisk told mortgage lenders that self-built homes should be considered as one way to boost the UK housing market. |
| He said that only about 10% of new UK homes were self-built, compared with 60% in France and Germany. | He said that only about 10% of new UK homes were self-built, compared with 60% in France and Germany. |
| But homebuilders and lenders said this would only ever be a niche market. | But homebuilders and lenders said this would only ever be a niche market. |
| Building fund | Building fund |
| Self-build has become more prominent through television shows such as Grand Designs and generally they involve an owner buying a plot of land and then hiring an architect to design a property. | Self-build has become more prominent through television shows such as Grand Designs and generally they involve an owner buying a plot of land and then hiring an architect to design a property. |
| Mr Prisk reaffirmed the government's push for self-built homes at a conference in London organised by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. | Mr Prisk reaffirmed the government's push for self-built homes at a conference in London organised by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. |
| He said that the UK was also well behind countries such as the US where 45% of new homes were self-built. | He said that the UK was also well behind countries such as the US where 45% of new homes were self-built. |
| The government has set aside a £30m investment fund to promote self-build. Sites in North East Derbyshire and Peterborough have recently been approved for a slice of the funding. | The government has set aside a £30m investment fund to promote self-build. Sites in North East Derbyshire and Peterborough have recently been approved for a slice of the funding. |
| The opportunity for individuals and communities to build their own homes was now a realistic option, he said, and lenders should give them the chance. | The opportunity for individuals and communities to build their own homes was now a realistic option, he said, and lenders should give them the chance. |
| "I'm not pretending self-build is the entire answer, but it is an element I want to encourage you to incorporate," he told the audience of mortgage lenders. | "I'm not pretending self-build is the entire answer, but it is an element I want to encourage you to incorporate," he told the audience of mortgage lenders. |
| 'Crisis' | 'Crisis' |
| He said that the number of self-build mortgage products had increased. | He said that the number of self-build mortgage products had increased. |
| However, the fact that these still numbered just over 20 meant that many in the industry only regarded this as niche part of the market, and nothing like sufficient to make a dent in the housing shortage. | However, the fact that these still numbered just over 20 meant that many in the industry only regarded this as niche part of the market, and nothing like sufficient to make a dent in the housing shortage. |
| "We welcome everyone building houses," said Stewart Baseley, of the Home Builders Federation. | "We welcome everyone building houses," said Stewart Baseley, of the Home Builders Federation. |
| "There is plenty of room on the pitch for all these balls to be kicked about. But self-build is not the solution that will solve the housing crisis." | "There is plenty of room on the pitch for all these balls to be kicked about. But self-build is not the solution that will solve the housing crisis." |
| Mark Clare, group chief executive of Barratt Developments, the UK's biggest housebuilder, said that self-built homes still needed to be financed and expertise needed to put them up. | Mark Clare, group chief executive of Barratt Developments, the UK's biggest housebuilder, said that self-built homes still needed to be financed and expertise needed to put them up. |
| He said that there would be a one million shortfall of homes by the end of the year. | He said that there would be a one million shortfall of homes by the end of the year. |
| Some 110,000 homes were being built, but 250,000 new households were being created, as people lived for longer and got married later. | Some 110,000 homes were being built, but 250,000 new households were being created, as people lived for longer and got married later. |
| "This is going to get worse before it gets better," he said. | "This is going to get worse before it gets better," he said. |
| Mr Baseley said that three times as many homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s, about half of which were for council housing. | Mr Baseley said that three times as many homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s, about half of which were for council housing. |
| "We are in the midst of a housing crisis," he said. | "We are in the midst of a housing crisis," he said. |