A HOLSWORTHY solicitor and Trustee of the Holsworthy Community Property Trust has been invited to speak at the Community Self Build Agency's first event in Cornwall supporting people keen to create their own home.

The event, Build It Yourselves, organised by the Community Self Build Agency, will take place at the Eden Project on Saturday, April 18. It will be formally opened by Matthew Taylor, MP for Truro and St Austell.

Mr Taylor authored Living Working Country­side, a report commissioned by the Prime Minister to investigate affordable housing availability in rural communities.

The Community Self Build Agency supports groups of individuals to build their own property to live in, enter a shared ownership scheme or to rent. The agency has been instrumental in getting 135 UK self-build schemes off the ground.

However Britain has a little way to catch up with France and Germany, where around 50 per cent of houses constructed each year are self-builds.

Event organiser Roger Thomson said: "Self builders often face difficulties in finding plots at the right price, getting mortgages and just getting information on the best ways to get started."

The Build It Yourselves event will feature exhibitions and advice workshops all day from 10am to 4pm, dealing with issues such as finding a plot, getting a mortgage, designing your home, planning and building regulations and sourcing materials.

Amongst the speakers at Build It Yourselves will be Pam Johns, agricultural specialist at Coodes Solicitors in Holsworthy. Mrs Johns is also a trustee of the Holsworthy Comm­unity Property Trust.

She said: "Affordable housing for local people is a real priority in the South West, and self-build could be an exciting and viable option as long as you receive the right guidance and support.

"In Holsworthy, we managed to create our own affordable housing scheme by setting up the Holsworthy Community Property Trust.

"But that was only through getting the right people on board who could open doors for us.

"The Build It Your­selves event is a fantastic opportunity to share enthusiasm and information and hopefully build a better future for the South West."