To consider the submitted report on the self build housing allocation policy.

Members considered the submitted report which provided an update on the self build housing option and sought approval of the self build housing allocation policy.

It was proposed by Councillor King and seconded by Councillor Haddock:

            that the Torbay Council Self Build/Custom Build Allocation Policy, as set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report, be agreed as an appendix to the Housing Strategy.

On being put to the vote, the motion was declared carried (unanimous).

To seek an update from the Executive Leads on the proposals in relation to Self Build Affordable Housing.

The Executive Lead for Business attended the meeting to provide an update on the proposal to provide self build affordable housing.  It was explained that the recently adopted Local Plan included a policy to enable affordable self build, that the Council proposed to release some of its land to support self build and that the Council had launched its Self Build Interest Register at the beginning of March 2016.

The Register would help the Council to identify the need or demand for self build and the information gathered would be used to develop the qualifying criteria for self build in Torbay.

The Board accepted that the proposals were at the very early stage and requested that the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Lead be kept informed of progress which could then be reported back through the Overview and Scrutiny Monthly Briefings.  The Board would wish to review the proposed criteria for self build before a decision was made.  However, the Board felt that any scheme should be designed to meet local need.