Grand designs on self-build homes

Local councillors want to help Oldhamers follow the “Grand Designs” way of building their own bespoke homes.

The Government has put aside £65 million to support people who want to build their own home.

Oldham Lib-Dem councillors Barbara Beeley and Lynne Thompson will suggest to tonight’s Oldham Council meeting that the borough launches a working group that could mobilise the council’s resources for self-builders.

Quirky properties on “Grand Designs” can seem out of reach when people need to find a piece of land, come up with a large sum of money and negotiate many legal hurdles.

But Councillor Beeley said: “This type of housing development is nothing new to Oldham. The most famous is Garden Suburb. In 1907 the Oldham Garden Suburb Trust was formed by a group of people who wanted a better place to live and work, and began to build better homes to rent and to buy.

“There are many types of modern schemes that give people the chance to build their own property or to become part of a cooperative.

Councillor Thompson added: “The savings can be spectacular. A family can save up to 40 per cent of the cost of a new home; it’s perfect for Oldham. People are generally not wealthy, but they have initiative and aren’t afraid of a bit of hard work.”