The government has announced that it is reviewing ways to make it easier for people to build their own homes.

At the moment, councils must keep a register of who wishes to build in their local area and are asked to have granted planning permission to enough suitable plots to match demand by 30 October each year – known as Right to Build day.

The efficacy of these arrangements will be subject to the review alongside a drive for more transparency through the annual publication of these data.

“This will help more people get a foot on the housing ladder and support our building industry as we deliver the homes that this country needs,” says Housing secretary Robert Jenrick.

The government says that 15,000 self-build homes are completed every year and have increased 50 per cent in the last two years.

However, Dudley Building Society commercial director Sam Ward points out that, “we lag a long way behind our European counterpart in respect of new property that is self-built – only 8 per cent of new housing stock in the UK, while the Netherlands claims 30 per cent and Austria up to 80 per cent.”

National Custom & Self Build Association chief executive Andrew Baddeley-Chappell comments: “England has the lowest known rate of self-commissioned homes in the developed world. Our new homes market is crying out for the greener and higher quality build that goes hand-in-hand with more consumer choice. Housing diversification is key to the government’s housing strategy.

“This excellent announcement today by the government should help many more people achieve the dream of living in better and more beautiful homes.”