FOI disclosure log

Message from the customer

06 November 2018

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You are being sent this letter because as you may be aware, from 1 April 2016 the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended by the Housing and Planning Act 2016) places a number of obligations on all relevant authorities.  These include:

 

1. To keep a register of individuals and associations of individuals who wish to acquire serviced plots of land to build their own homes in the authority’s area and to have regard to those registers in carrying out their planning, housing, land disposal and regeneration functions.
2. To publicise its register.
3. To give suitable development permission in respect of enough serviced plots to meet the demand.

 

The obligation to give suitable development permissions is determined by reference to individual base periods, the most recent of which ran from 31 October 2017 to 30 October 2018 inclusive.  Authorities have been provided with New Burden money to support this work.

 

I am writing to request the answers to the questions that are set out below. In setting out the data request I have focussed on information of direct relevance to the implementation and required delivery under the Act.  The responses should therefore be readily reportable back to us within the £450 / 18 hour limit for a Freedom of Information Request.

 

1. How many entries have been added to your register between 31 October 2017 and 30 October 2018?

1. individual [number]
2. group [number]
3. individuals within groups [number]

 

1. How many entries on your register in total as at 30 October 2018.

1. individual [number]
2. group [number]
3. individuals within groups [number]

 

1. As at 30 October 2018 are you keeping specific records as to the number of planning permissions for serviced plots suitable for self and custom build that have been granted from 1 April 2016 to 30 October 2018 so as to track your statutory obligations?  [yes/no]

1. If so, how many permissions have you granted? [number]

 

1. Have you introduced a local connection test? [yes/no]

1. If so, from what date did this apply? [free text]
2. If so, how many entries on part one of the register at 30 October 2018?
   1. Individuals [number]
   2. groups [number]
3. If so how many entries on part two of the register at 30 October 2018?
   1. Individuals [number]
   2. groups? [number]

 

1. Have you introduced a financial viability test? [yes/no]

1. If so, from what date did this apply? [date]

 

1. Have you implemented a charge for entry onto the register? [yes/no]

1. If so, what is the charge (amount, frequency)? [free text]

 

1. In the period from 31 October 2017 to 30 October 2018 have you publicised your register? [yes/no]

1. If so, please provide a high- level outline to the main methods of publicity the authority has undertaken in that period? [free text]

 

Message from Hackney Council

28 November 2018

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Re: Freedom of Information Request.

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, received November 2018. Your request has been considered and our response is in bold below.

 

You requested the following: 

 1. How many entries have been added to your register between 31 October 2017 and 30 October 2018?

The Council keeps a register in accordance with the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended by the Housing and Planning Act 2016). The register provides important information on the demand for self-build and custom housebuilding in the local area and forms a key part of the Council"s evidence base on demand for this type of housing.

1.52 entries were added to the register between 31 Oct. 2017 and 30 Oct. 2018

a) individual -  49

b) group -  1

c) individuals within groups - 3 individuals within groups

 

2. How many entries have been added to your register between 31 October 2017 and 30 October 2018?

166 entries were on the register as at 30 October 2018.
a) individual - 130
b) group - 9
c)  individuals within groups - 36

 

3) As at 30 October 2018 are you keeping specific records as to the number of planning permissions for serviced plots suitable for self and custom build that have been granted from 1 April 2016 to 30 October 2018 so as to track your statutory obligations?  [yes/no]

Applicants can apply for Self-Build Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) relief once their applications have been approved and through our monitoring work, we can establish the number of applicants that have successfully applied for Self-build community infrastructure levy (CIL) relief after their applications have been approved.

a) If so, how many permissions have you granted? 

 From April 2016 to 30 October 2018, Applicants for 19 permissions have successfully applied for Self-build CIL relief.

 

4. Have you introduced a local connection test? No

a) If so, from what date did this apply? Not Applicable (N/A)

b) If so, how many entries on part one of the register at 30 October 2018? - N/A

i. Individuals - N/A

ii. groups - N/A

c) If so how many entries on part two of the register at 30 October 2018? N/A

i. Individuals - N/A

ii. groups? - N/A

 

5. Have you introduced a financial viability test? NO

a) If so, from what date did this apply? N/A

 

6. Have you implemented a charge for entry onto the register? NO

a) If so, what is the charge (amount, frequency)? N/A

 

7. In the period from 31 October 2017 to 30 October 2018 have you publicised your register? YES

a) If so, please provide a high- level outline to the main methods of publicity the authority has undertaken in that period?

Please follow this link for more information about the Council’s Self-build and Custom housing building register, including the response to your question https://www.hackney.gov.uk/self-build. 

 

Appeals & Complaints Procedure

If you are dissatisfied with this response and wish to appeal, please write to the Information Management Team and this will be dealt with through our Internal Review procedure.

Information Management Team - Governance

London Borough of Hackney

Hackney Service Centre

1 Hillman Street

London E8 1DY

[email protected]

 

Your request for an internal review should be submitted to us within 40 working days of receipt by you of this response. Any such request received after this time will only be considered at the discretion of the Council.

 

If you are still not satisfied following the Internal Review, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at the contact details provided below.

 

Information Commissioner"s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF 

Telephone: 01625 545 700

www.ico.org.uk

 

Yours sincerely

 

Information Management Team