The British Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on Tuesday urged local governments to step up efforts to help boost the house-building industry by finding land for housing self-builders.

Speaking at Grand Designs Live during National Self-build week, Planning minister Nick Boles said he was determined to help families who aspire to self-build and create their dream home.

The British government is already making it easier for people to build their own homes by exempting self-builders from paying thousands of pounds on a levy charge that must be paid for all new buildings over a certain size.

Self-build homes are often cheaper, greener, more affordable and more innovatively designed than standard market housing.

"We urgently need to build more homes and now is the time for councils to act and earmark areas that encourage people to buy a plot of land and get a builder to build them a home," Boles said.

Housing Minister Mark Prisk also said: "I would urge councils to support aspiring self-builders in their area by considering their needs as they develop their local plans."

"We are determined to ensure anyone who wants to build their own home to have the opportunity to do so, which is why we have made 44 million pounds available to help get their self-build projects off the ground," he said.

The self-build industry turns over approximately 3.6 billion pounds a year, protects and creates thousands of new construction jobs and boosts local economies, said the DCLG. Endi

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