Innovative self build scheme might become reality

It looks hopeful for a new housing project to get the go-ahead by Swindon Council. The scheme would see a partnership between the borough council and Buildstore Financial Services, who run the National Self Build Centre, to develop a site which would be used for self-build homes.

The proposed site is where Windmill Hill School used to be, before being demolished in 2011, and so is already owned by the council and it has been decided that this is the most preferable site. Councillor Peter Greenhalgh said “It’s a self-contained site within an area of existing housing. It’s difficult to think of any other type of scheme that would work in this specific location.”

The idea is that once planning permission was given, Buildstore would market the 12 building plots for an agreed priceand then once all plots were sold, the council would implement all access roads and paths and provide utilities for all the plots. Then Buildstore would step in to help the self builders with project management so they could all build their own homes.

It sounds like an excellent project to us, and we will be watching carefully to see how this proposed scheme progresses.