The Head of Planning Services has submitted a report to ask Cabinet to adopt a Local Connection Test to the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register following public consultation and updated government guidance.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.     Approve the implementation of a local connection testin order to determine whether an applicant has a local connection to Oxford;

2.     Approve the criteria to be applied in considering applications for theSelf-build and Custom Housebuilding Register as set out at paragraph 11 of the report; and

3.     Approve the splitting of the currentSelf-build and Custom Housebuilding Register into two parts which would differentiate between people with a local connection and those who do not have a local connection.

The Head of Planning Services had submitted a report to ask Cabinet to adopt a Local Connection Test to the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register, following public consultation and updated government guidance.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery reported that there had been a legal obligation to maintain a planning and housebuilding register since 2016.  The proposal before Cabinet was to split the register into those with a local connection to the city and those without.  This would enable the level of demand from people connected to Oxford to be known.

It was hoped that self-build plots would start to come forward as part of the delivery of sites within the Local Plan.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Approve the implementation of a local connection test in order to determine whether an applicant has a local connection to Oxford;

2.      Approve the criteria to be applied in considering applications for the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register as set out at paragraph 11 of the report; and

3.      Approve the splitting of the current Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register into two parts which would differentiate between people with a local connection to Oxford and those who do not have a local connection.