Self and custom house building

Self-build or custom build helps to diversify the housing market and increase consumer choice. Self-build and custom housebuilders choose the design and layout of their home and can be innovative in both its design and construction.

Self-build and custom housebuilding register

Under the Self-Build and Custom Housing building Act 2015 (as amended by the Housing and Planning Act 2016) the Council is required to keep a register of people who are interested in building their own home.

The self-build and custom build register helps us understand the level of demand for this type of housing in the Royal Borough and allow us to develop housing and planning policies to support the kinds of self and custom build projects that would be most appropriate.  

Being on the register does not mean the Council will offer you a plot, and no plot-matching service is provided.  The register informs the creation of planning policy, not the allocation of sites.

By joining the register you are not making any commitment at this stage and may remove yourself from the register if you change your mind.    

Eligibility to go on the self-build register

Each individual applicant and every member of an association that applies for entry on the register must be:

  • Aged 18 or older.
  • A British Citizen, a national of a European Economic Area (EEA) State other than the United Kingdom, or a national of Switzerland.
  • Seeking (either alone or with others) to acquire a serviced plot of land in the authority’s area to build a house to occupy as that individual’s sole or main residence.

Register your interest

To register your interest in building your own home in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, complete the form below:

Register your interest

What happens after you Register

  • Your details will be added to the Council's Self-Build Register.
  • We use anonymised data from the register to understand demand and shape planning policies.
  • You will not be offered land directly by the Council as part of this process.  
  • You may be contacted if further information is required, or if the Council runs relevant consultations and reviews.
  • You may be contacted if we become aware of relevant marketing exercises from housebuilders.  

Updating or removing your details

It is important that the information on the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register is up-to-date.  

If:

  • Your contact details change.
  • Your association's membership changes.
  • You wish to be removed from the register.

Please notify us in writing using the contact details below.

In accordance with The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding (Register) Regulations 2016: The Council will remove an entry from the register within 28 days of receiving a written request to do so.  

Please submit your written instruction via email to planning.policy@rbwm.gov.uk or by post to: Planning Policy, The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF.

Guidance Note:

For further detailed information on the self-build and custom housebuilding process and how the Council supports delivery of serviced plots, please see our Guidance Notes (2023).