community led housing london

Levent Kerimol

Age-friendly communities roundtable

Our director, Levent Kerimol, took part in this panel organised by Inside Housing, alongside several other leaders in housing.

He made the point that many of the things older people want in terms of not being done unto and feeling in control of their homes, were also what the rest of us want. This agency can create the sense of belonging, and that it ought to be up to people themselves in how they live, with other older people, or with a range of generations.

The rest of the discussion is on pages 1 & 2 and pages 3 & 4.

 

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What makes it community led?

Our director, Levent Kerimol considers what we mean by ‘community led’?

The recent National Planning Policy Framework consultation proposed a new definition for community led development, which got us thinking again about community led housing and what makes it unique.

We have previously looked at the CLH definition agreed by the sector and the GLA and government around 2017. However we have sometimes seen community led housing misunderstood as housing developed by community organisations.

We believe the role of residents and prospective residents in controlling their own housing is critical.

There are undoubtedly many great organisations doing great work, serving particular geographic or demographic communities. However, these may not be community led, even if their boards are made up of people who come from that particular community.

Arrangements where residents cannot control these organisations can perpetuate the same paternalistic landlord-tenant relationships that exist across affordable and private rented housing. This paternalism is even present to some extent with constrained consumers buying generic new-builds, without real control of what is provided. It is a mentality of charity bestowed unto beneficiaries, which can be disempowering, however well-intentioned.

Without a resident/community membership making decisions or controlling the organisation by electing the board or governing body, there is little difference to any other housing association, however large or small.

If people are happy with the way things are run, democratic control may not always be vigorously exercised, but simply having the ability to elect the board, or stand to be on the board, is empowering, and encourages behaviours that are more considerate to member wishes from those in leadership positions. Not all community led housing organisations are perfect. Democratic cultures need to be actively practiced and embodied so they are not lost, and there is a responsibility to share knowledge and information.

Sometimes residents are unfamiliar with this power and responsibility, and are cautious about embracing it in full. We believe this empowerment is also connected to the ‘sense of community’, which can exist in conventional housing, but is significantly reinforced when there are shared responsibilities and mutual obligations amongst a group of residents. This is most easily visible through the gardens in community led housing.

Direct democratic control and accountability is a key differentiator of community led housing, and should be available to (prospective) residents, even if others from the wider community are also members of the organisation.

Sanford Housing Co-op gardens

 

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RTPI London podcast and NPPF consultation

The RTPI London podcast on community led housing is finally out.

Our director, Levent Kerimol, was talking to Lubaina Mirza with Oliver Bulleid from London CLT, back in November. It was heartening to see several ideas on planning policy finding their way into the recent National Planning Policy Framework consultation.

Fast forward to 19 minutes below for our ideas on:

  • percentage inclusion policies for CLH on larger sites/schemes,
  • community-led exception sites, and
  • greater flexibility in planning decisions around allocations, affordable tenures and whether these need Registered Providers.

We have have contributed to the CLT Network’s NPPF response and will be submitting a similar response focusing on London and urban areas.

 

 
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Coproduction Framework

Coproduction is raising the bar for the role communities can expect to play in how their homes and neighbourhoods are managed and change.

We have prepared a framework to aid local authorities, housing associations, community and resident led organisations, and others working in housing, urban development, and regeneration. It is envisaged as a tool for evaluating the health and effectiveness of coproduction processes; and as a guide to improving relationships between decision-makers and citizens and supporting new cultures of working together.

Download the pdf here

The document is based on two years’ work by our advisers, Sib Trigg and Rowan Mackay, evaluating coproduction practices, focusing on initiatives between LB Newham and community representatives on estate regeneration projects.

We are now applying this experience to all sorts of other projects and partnerships across London.

By increasing the capacity for coproduction within the built environment sector, our intention is to improve project delivery for all stakeholders and advance more equitable forms of urban development.

Find out about our wider support for coproduction

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Community groups sought for 56 homes at St Ann’s

The Mayor of London selected Catalyst Housing Group as development partner for a major redevelopment of the St Ann’s Hospital site in Tottenham in December 2020. The scheme features 56 affordable homes set aside for community ownership.

This will make St Ann’s one of the largest community led housing schemes in London.

The GLA launched the search for a community organisation to take on these homes today. Interested organisations should review the information, and submit their joint EOI and sifting brief to the GLA by 14:00 on 4th November 2022.

The wider project is engaging the local community in other facilities and in the landscaping plans for St Ann’s. The remaining affordable homes are intended to be around 60% London Affordable Rent, 20% London Shared Ownership and 20% London Living Rent, including housing for Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust workers, who will be able to make use of London Living Rent homes to ensure staff can be housed locally.

The plans for the St Ann’s site are very exciting, not least because they allow community led housing to become a more consistent part of a diverse London housing landscape. We look forward to supporting community led housing groups to make the most of this opportunity to empower future residents and local people in taking collective control of their housing.

 
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