Part 4 of the policy proposes that housing development of 250 dwellings or more should provide land for self-build and custom build dwellings to help meet identified local demand. The policy is considered to be vague in terms of its specific requirements. Furthermore, whilst the Council has confirmed it has had 57 individual registrations for self build, the HEDNA concludes that such registrations should be treated with some caution (paragraph 9.56) and that an 'interest' in self-build does not take into account market factors (9.58). HEDNA concludes that most new delivery of self-build is expected to come forward on small windfall sites, and whilst there is the potential to encourage developers of larger schemes to designate custom build plots, "it is likely to be difficult to demonstrate concrete evidence of demand at a local level, albeit those local authorities are required to maintain registers of those with an interest in doing so" (paragraph 9.58)

Whilst the Planning Practice Guidance confirms that landowners can be encouraged to consider self-build, it is considered that on the basis of the HEDNA conclusions and the lack of clarity with the policy wording, part 4 of Policy H5 is not justified.