Community-led housing

Community-led housing is a means by which local communities play a central role in providing their own housing. It can be used to specifically help certain groups such as older people. The adopted approach depends on a range of factors, such as the demand, available resources, location, and so on.

Community-led housing represents about 1% of the current UK housing stock. The general concept behind community-led housing is that the housing can be rented to people who live in the local community at affordable rates.

The different approaches broadly classified as community-led housing, include:

• Cohousing.
• Community land trusts (CLTs).
• Cooperative housing.
• Self-help housing.
• Group self-build.

These approaches can encompass new build, regeneration works and the repurposing of existing buildings.

The general principles of community-led housing include:

• Community engagement and consent throughout the process.
• The development process does not necessarily have to be initiated, nor the houses built, by the community.
• The homes are owned, managed and stewarded by the local community group.
• Asset locks legally protect the benefits to the local area.

The benefits of community-led housing include:

• Provision of additional housing.
• The house building industry is diversified.
• Older and vulnerable people are provided with choice for appropriate housing.
• Popular support for new homes can be mobilised.

In February 2019, Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse announced a £6 million funding boost for community-led housing over a 2-year period. The Community Led Homes Programme (managed by 4 leading housing charities) will provide local people with funding to kickstart developments that will benefit their neighbourhood. Funding of up to £10,000 will be provided to groups to cover start-up costs such as legal fees, and a further £3.5 million will be made available to provide technical advice and support to guide communities through the process of building. Ref https://www.gov.uk/government/news/malthouse-boosts-funding-for-community-led-affordable-housing

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Affordable housing.
• Cohousing.
• Community.
• Community energy network.
• Community housing fund.
• Densification.
• Garden cities.
• Gentrification.
• Housing associations.
• Housing cooperative.
• Shared ownership.
• Social housing.
• Tenant management organisation.