Steenvlinder to develop self-build in the UK

London, 8 november 2021

And we’re off! After exploring the self-build market in the UK during the time of the pandemic, Steenvlinder is ready to start with three projects by the end of 2021. The start of further research, planning, permissions and housing programmes. Steenvlinder is excited about the opportunities in the UK for self-build.

As a member of the National Custom and Self-Build Association (NaCSBA), Steenvlinder was able to witness the progress in national and local policies and further intentions to scale up self-build. It is encouraging to see experts push on more reform, with success. But still we have a lot to push further on – and as a market leader in self-build in The Netherlands, we are confident to take our role as a social and community-driven developer for self-builers and increase the offer in self-build products. As a relatively unknown and untapped market to date, Steenvlinder will start with 150 plots of land that will soon be available for residents to buy in Ashford (105), Birmingham (30-50) and Basildon (12) – with utility connections already installed – as well as guidance for buyers to get started on their journeys. Find more information on the projects here.

The British Prime Minister recently tasked South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon with leading an “independent review to develop a plan for a major scaling up of self-commissioned new homes – across all tenures – to boost capacity and overall housing supply”. The Government has now published the ‘Bacon Review’, entitled ‘How putting customers in charge can change everything (pdf)’, and we welcome its conclusions and recommendations.

The ‘build your own home’ concept is already popular elsewhere in Europe. In fact, it now accounts for most newly completed homes in Germany. And, to quote from the Bacon Review, “Despite its size, the Netherlands has led the way in innovation in the [CSB] housing sector, with the new town of Almere being an international model of what can be achieved at scale.” With the eyes of the world on COP26 in Glasgow, it’s also worth noting that CSB homes tend to result in better and more sustainable properties.

Hans Sparreboom, CEO and Co-Founder at Steenvlinder, said: "We were delighted to meet with Mr. Bacon when he visited the Netherlands three years ago and to contribute to his housing Review. With the Government supportive of the CSB methodology, let’s spend less time asking how to build more houses and more about making ‘how to make houses’ more popular. We're excited about helping the UK build back better with homes designed and built to last.”

These early steps of self-build by Steenvlinder have not gone unnoticed.

The Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP, Minister of State for the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), said: “It is encouraging to see further investment in the customer and self-build market in the UK. It has the potential to deliver thousands more homes each year as we bring forward the recommendations in the Bacon Review to scale-up the sector and introduce the Help to Build scheme which will make home building a realistic and affordable option to many more people.”

Gary Sambrook MP (Birmingham Northfield) said: “While housing in Birmingham city centre has boomed, the same cannot be said for the suburbs. We urgently need to build more homes that local people can afford, including for those aiming to get onto the property ladder as well as those looking for more space to grow their families. I was therefore delighted to hear that Steenvlinder is exploring the opportunity of helping residents build 30 to 50 better-built and sustainable properties in Kings Norton and I’ll follow this closely.”