community led housing london

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. 

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Susan Road

The Royal Borough of Greenwich released these sites in Kidbrooke specifically for Community Land Trusts

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”.

Greenwich Citizens Housing and London CLT were successful in being selected with designs consisting of two modest, low-rise infill housing schemes which carefully respond to their immediate neighbours. The proposals look to enhance their surroundings and public realm, including a focus on improving the well used pedestrian route from Susan Road to the Kidbrooke Parade.
They also secured the Fleixstowe Road site in Abbey Wood.

How we’re helping
We supported two groups in preparing proposals for the council, and are funding London CLT to progress a planning application with Archio.

 
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Bow Creek Moorings

A group of boaters, currently using a private marina, setting up co-operative residential moorings to create a secure and sustainable community.

The project will provide safe and secure moorings for up to 10 boats, and bring new life to Bow Creek, helping to revitalise the river, and recognising the vital part it has played in the history of London.
As a co-operative, each boat will have a share in the ownership, management and responsibility for running the site. This will provide control over living and work arrangements and financial stability in contrast to the operation of commercial private marinas.

How we’re helping
We’re supporting negotiations with stakeholders to establish the project.

 Visit their website

Platform Homes Self-Build

Tower Hamlets residents working together to create self-build homes on tight infill sites.

Platform Homes were successful in securing the Christian Street site through Tower Hamlets Council’s Affordable Self-Build Programme. They have a wider membership of prospective residents, but the site is likely to accommodate two homes, where affordability will be protected in perpetuity. They are aiming to use modern methods of construction.

 

How we’re helping

We supported the group in preparing a submission for the affordable self-build programme, particularly around governance structures and finance. We are currently supporting discussions with adjacent landowners, as the groups look to submit a planning application.

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Rising Sun Housing Co-op

The Rising Sun Housing Co-operative was formed by a group of creatives living in a former pub, when their landlord put it on the market. They are seeking investment to finalise the purchase and secure their homes.

The building is used as both a home and workspace. It contains facilities such as a recording studio, rehearsal space, intimate venue and design studio which members of the community are allowed to use free of charge. On top of this, it provides crucial and increasingly rare affordable housing and a space for young creatives to build networks and meet other like-minded people. In short, The Rising Sun is a hub for all manner of creative outputs and a staple part of the local art and music culture.

The residents formed the co-operative to buy the pub from the landlord who recently put it on the market. This will allow them to provide additional affordable housing and studio space for their members. Having already improved their EPC rating from an F to a D, the co-operative is also looking to take further measures to improve the energy efficiency of the building, including loft insulation, new draught proofing, more double glazing and solar panels.

The Rising Sun have raised almost three-quarters of the equity they need to secure the space, but are still looking for investors to raise the rest as loan stock with attractive rates of interest.

 

How we’re helping
We supported their incorporation and helped to commission financial modelling and business planning, which has helped the co-op secure mortgages in principle, and prepare their loan stock offer. We have been directly involved in negotiating with the landowner and agents to get their offer accepted, and bringing solicitors on board and are on hand to see the deal through.

 Visit their website