community led housing london

Community Land Trust

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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Beam River CLT

Based in East London, Beam River CLT is aiming to empower disadvantaged members of the African community through the provision of affordable housing.

They are also motivated by the negative impacts of loneliness and isolation and are looking to create a supportive community, which will combat the challenge of social care for the elderly.

How we helped
We supported Beam River CLT to focus their strategic thinking and helped them incorporate.

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Crystal Palace CLT

Crystal Palace CLT is made up of local people who aim to acquire land to provide affordable homes, workspace and other community assets in consultation with local residents.

Following Croydon Council’s release of a small site for community led housing, the Crystal Palace Transition Town Community came together to establish a Community Land Trust (CLT). The Transition Town network is a movement addressing community issues and promoting sustainable ways of living.

They were selected preferred bidders for The Lawns site in Upper Norwood with an environmental scheme at discounted market sale and community gardens. The journey has been complicated due to challenges faced by Croydon Council stalling progress, but after 4 years of hard work from volunteers, supported by CLH London advisers, the planning proposal for their first development at The Lawns has gone live.

The Community Land Trust volunteers worked closely with the community, and their architects, Archio, to develop a design listening to feedback. They came up with proposals which include 7 homes on a site that the council’s arms-length developer had considered too difficult.

The project also improves the turning head at the end of the road with 7 car parking spaces, and a landscaped green area which promotes biodiversity and community gardening.

The CLT plans to offer these homes at below 70% of market value, as they are a non-profit organisation, and any surplus from the community land trust project will go towards discounted sales prices and other community projects.

The Trust is also committed to combining sustainability and affordability. The new homes will be built to high environmental standards to reduce the impact on the planet, making them easier to heat in winter and to keep cool in summer, thereby helping to reduce energy bills for residents.

 

How we’re helping
We supported initial incorporation and provided funding to review the viability and legal structure of the project. We have helped with getting architects and project managers on board and advised on community engagement. After working with the council’s development managers for a period, we helped the group recruit their own development manager. Our advisers have provided ongoing mentoring in shaping the development and agreeing a land transaction and development agreement.

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Camden Community Makers

Camden Community Makers are an artist and local led community housing initiative formed by local artists and members of housing co-ops coming together to ensure genuinely affordable housing and facilities as part of the potential redevelopment in Kentish Town.

They have organised local community events such as film nights, street parties and have hosted community story map workshops using local materials.

How we’re helping
We have supported their incorporation and work to expand membership.

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CASH

Community Assets for Society and Housing (CASH) is a CLT founded by members of housing co-ops, bringing together personal and professional experiences of community led housing.

As members of South East London based housing cooperatives, including Sanford and Nettleton, CASH have knowledge and resources they can draw on to provide a platform for new co-operative housing. They are keen for existing housing co-operatives to support new projects by pooling contributions from their reserves as loan stock and sharing their management experience to support a number of smaller developments and projects.

How we’re helping
We have advised CASH on Community Benefit Society rules and funded their incorporation. We are now supporting their site searching activity in South East London and corporate financial modelling.

 
Visit their Website