Financing your dream home

Help to Build Scheme

Help to Build is a new government equity loan that will be available to people in England who want to custom build or self build their own home.

Help to Build can make building your own home a realistic choice, even if you have a small deposit. With Help to Build, self and custom builders can use an equity loan based on the estimated costs to buy a plot of land and build the home. The equity loan amount can be between 5% to 20% (up to 40% in London) of the total estimated cost. If you’re eligible, you can spend up to £600,000 on your new home. This must include the cost of the land if you don’t already own it, and no more than £400,000 on the cost to build it. Applications will open for Help to Build: Equity Loan during winter.

You can apply for Help to Build if you:

• are 18 years of age or over, and have a right to live in England
• will live in the newly-built home as your only home
• secure a self build mortgage from a lender registered with Help to Build

Self-Build Mortgages

For self-builders at Graven Hill, if you need to borrow money to fund your project then finding the right mortgage for your build is crucial.

A self-build mortgage is different to a standard mortgage, as the money is released in stages as you progress through the build rather than in a lump sum. There are different ways in which the money can be released, and this will be dependent on the self-build mortgage you choose.

We recommended you speak to a self-build finance expert as early in your project as possible.

Please note: all self-builders at Graven Hill must be qualified by Buildstore.

Bespoke Custom Build Mortgage Pilot Scheme

Cherwell District Council’s new Bespoke Custom Build Mortgage scheme is aimed at supporting local people in accessing self-build mortgages on select plots at Graven Hill.

Up to 5 mortgages will be supported through this pilot scheme, which will be available on select Mix and Match Self-Build plots. The scheme will provide a loan of up to 95% of the value on the Mix and Match plot and Cherwell will indemnify up to 20% on each mortgage. Borrowers will require a 5% deposit, which is non-refundable.

Visit the Cherwell District Council website to find out more about how the scheme works, your eligibility and how to apply.