Developer housing now dominates a self-built property site, dealing another setback to individuals aiming to construct their own residences.

In a move that reflects a growing trend in the UK housing market, the London Road site in Shrewsbury, owned by the local council, is no longer being offered for self-build plots. Instead, the site will provide 32 custom build plots.

Originally, the London Road site was intended for 47 homes, with 37 self-build plots and 10 affordable housing plots. However, Cornovii Developments Ltd, the developers for the London Road site, have made this change due to "substantial social and economic shifts" and consultation with national self-build organisations and experts.

The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 allows for custom-build plots to be offered, even if self-build plots are no longer available. This Act does not provide a distinction between self-build and custom-build, as long as the specified criteria are met.

This trend of reducing self-build plots and focusing on affordable housing and apartment buildings is being seen in other developments, such as Graven Hill, the largest self-build site in the UK. Developers at Graven Hill are reducing self-build plots and building more affordable housing and apartment buildings in the second stage of their plans.

Cornovii Developments claim that these shifts across the UK have affected the construction industry and housing market, leading to their alteration of the offer on the London Road site. They maintain their pledge to build quality, sustainable, and environmentally friendly homes by offering the plots as custom build sites.

The original authority responsible for the London Road site, which planned the construction of 47 homes, was the Shropshire Council. The spokesperson for Cornovii Developments Ltd did not provide further details on the reasons for the change in the offer on the London Road site.

The London Road site spans 4.41 hectares and the decision to change from self-build plots to custom build plots is possible under the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015. This change in the London Road site offer shows a growing trend of self-build sites becoming harder to find in the UK.

As the UK may be moving further away from supporting self-building and making it harder for those looking to create their own homes, it remains to be seen how this trend will continue to develop in the future.