Levent Kerimol

Newham Council Cabinet recently agreed to the disposal of a site in Canning Town for affordable housing to E16 Community Land Trust.

The decision is a major victory for the local community who came together over five years ago in response to extensive regeneration in the area. Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz described it as “another housing milestone in Newham”.

CLH London have supported E16 CLT over several years and this decision gives the green light for the CLT to develop detailed plans for the site with their architects, Citizen Design Bureau, and work towards a planning pre-application submission in the spring.

Plans currently include approximately nine new family-sized homes for the local community. The CLT are also in conversation with a number of potential delivery partners and are exploring options for both affordable rent and ownership homes on the site.

Elsewhere E16 CLT and the People’s Empowerment Alliance of Custom House have secured over £30,000 to transform a former pub garden in Custom House into a new community space. They will be working with members, nearby residents and architects in the coming months with a view to eventually refurbishing the building into a new community centre.

Find out more and how you can support on the E16 CLT website.

 

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Gida Housing Co-operative is set to take on 58 homes in a partnership with Peabody and the GLA, which will see affordable rented housing controlled by Black and racially minoritised communities and residents. This community-led initiative is part of the St Ann’s New Neighbourhood development, a scheme that aims to deliver over 970 new homes on the St Ann’s Hospital site in Tottenham.

Representing one of the largest community-led housing schemes in London at the moment, Gida’s involvement builds upon historic efforts by the community and St Ann’s Redevelopment Trust (StART) to secure accessible and affordable homes in the area for those in housing need.

Yvonne Field OBE, chair of Gida Housing Co-operative said,

We’re excited to have been selected by the GLA as the community led housing organisation to work in partnership with Peabody. This project signifies an important step towards addressing the explicit housing need that Black and racially minoritised communities confront”.

Established in April 2021, Gida Housing Co-operative is dedicated to improving the quality and accessibility of housing for Black and racially minoritised communities in Tottenham and across London.

Gida’s key vision is to serve as an affordable housing provider that empowers Black and racially minoritised communities by granting them influence and control over the management of their homes.

Gida emerged from the work of StART, a group that was critical in promoting genuinely affordable homes at the St Ann’s Hospital Site. The group and campaign was pivotal in the decision by the Mayor of London to purchase the site in 2018, ensuring the provision of affordable and community homes within Peabody’s development for the St Ann’s New Neighbourhood, and running a selection process in 2022.

Over the next year, Gida Housing Co-operative plans to expand its membership, strengthen its organisational structure, and secure the necessary funds to deliver a community-led project that genuinely addresses the needs of local people in Haringey.

You can take part in Gida’s housing survey on their website: www.gidahousing.coop.

For further information and to stay updated on Gida’s progress, please email hello@gidahousing.coop or follow @Gidahousing

 

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