community-led housing london

resource and advice hub

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Scylla Road

London CLT are looking to provide 100% affordable housing for Southwark residents at Scylla Road in Nunhead.

In 2015, people across Peckham and Nunhead came together through local institutions to discuss the challenges they faced in their daily lives. The lack of affordable housing was one of the most frequently raised, and formed the agenda for a new community alliance, Peckham Citizens, launched in 2016.

Over the next few years, the group negotiated with Southwark Council about supporting CLT homes, considering homes as part of wider council developments, and undertaking a wide-ranging site search across SE15.

Scylla Road was settled upon in 2020. We supported initial feasibility work, and London CLT are now focused on how to deliver genuinely and permanently affordable homes on this site.

They aim to create a distinctive and welcoming place that is good for both local people and the environment, based on an understanding of how the community works. They will bring together ideas on how to improve the site, meet local need, and design homes and public realm that is relevant to the local context.

 Visit their website

Middlesex & Wellington Co-ops

Two housing co-operatives are working together to create a phased programme to create more affordable homes with modern standards.

The first site will replace three houses currently used as temporary housing with a new block, to provide more affordable rented and permanent rehousing for residents of short-life properties.

On a nearby site, Wellington Hosuing Co-op own several poor-quality short life homes, initially earmarked for demolition for a road widening scheme. These houses are currently leased and managed by Middlesex Housing Co-op, who will rehouse some of the residents in first scheme, so this site can be redeveloped to provide additional homes.

Better quality buildings will reduce aircraft and road traffic noise. Higher levels of insulation and efficient heating will address fuel poverty. Increasing the number of homes available for rent will enable more new residents, including those nominated by Hounslow Council, to move into intentionally supportive co-operative communities.

How we’re helping
We have supported initial design work and pre-application meetings

 Visit their website

Lambeth Self Help

Lambeth Self Help is a fully mutual housing co-operative, representing the interests of members since the 1970s.

Lambeth Self Help are committed to providing, managing and maintaining a range of affordable homes for co-operative members where they can live together in a diverse and sustainable community. 

They own 52 street properties; most of which are large Victorian houses. Several of the properties are occupied by single older people, who increasingly need accessible homes. LSH aim to provide smaller homes, more suitable for their ageing membership, on a several infill sites. This will free up some of the larger properties for families from the Council’s housing waiting list, where there is high demand for large family homes.

How we’re helping
We have advised on the development strategy, and will be providing guidance on delivering the homes

 Visit their website

Gloucester Grove TMO

The Gloucester Grove Tenant Management Organisation are looking at community-led housing solutions to gain support for new homes that alleviate overcrowding on the estate. 

The TMO is elected by residents to ensure housing maintenance is more accountable. They identified under-utilised space on the Gloucester Grove Estate, with an opportunity to provide 10-15 affordable homes. These homes will help alleviate the problem of overcrowding experienced by many who live on the estate. The community-led approach will give residents the opportunity to influence the scheme and develop new skills. 

How we’re helping 
We have helped the TMO engage with residents about the potential project and to discuss partnership options with Southwark Council. 

 Visit their website

Susan Road

The Royal Borough of Greenwich released two sites specifically for Community Land Trusts. Susan Road is in Kidbrooke and there is a further site in Abbey Wood.

Greenwich join a string of boroughs including Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Croydon, and Camden in creating opportunities for community led housing, with several others working on individual schemes.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Anthony Okereke said “this initiative is part of our pledge to use innovative approaches to develop affordable housing in perpetuity for the borough’s residents and create sustainable communities”.

How we’re helping
We have supported two groups to prepare proposals for the council.