communityled.homes

We support people making homes together through Cohousing, Community Land Trusts, and Housing Co-operatives

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Cohousing London East

A small group looking at building a mixed tenure, inter-generational, eco-community in North East London.

The group have a mix of ages, skills and ethnicities, brought together by shared values and ideals. They hope to build a community where they can live in affordable well-designed homes with others who share that desire. Some members have been researching and networking for some time, and are beginning to develop a group looked at decision-making methods such as sociocracy.

How we’re helping
We are helping clarify objectives, and have previously put them in contact with an interested developer about a site in Lea Bridge.

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Endlesham Hall

Endlesham Hall hosts a wide range of activities and events and has been at the heart of community life in this part of Balham since 1936. While it is still a popular venue, the building is rapidly ageing.

Number of homes 9 London Affordable Rent homes
Location Balham
Stage Planning granted 2023

The community membership of the independent church, who own the site, are working on creating a new multipurpose hall that reflects their values and becomes a special place for the community along with 9 affordable rented homes for younger key-workers above.

How we’re helping
We facilitated workshops on housing and governance structures and funded a design and viability study commissioned through an invited community selection process. The architects carried out feasibility work, which helped to secure further funding for a planning application. We have also provided feedback on financial modelling and have encouraged the church community to ask the right questions of prospective partners. Our associate adviser, Andy Redfearn, supported liaison with a Registered Provider, and contributed to the planning application, which was granted in March 2023.

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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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Cohousing Harrow

A group of families and individuals looking to build a supportive, mixed tenure cohousing community in Harrow.

They have been meeting regularly to establish their shared objectives and have a desire for a scheme of 20-25 homes. They have been researching different incorporation options, including Mutual Home Ownership by attending training and workshops.

How we’re helping
We have held workshops to clarify their membership and prioritise their objectives and have held seminar/training sessions to look at outline schemes, indicative costs, and the financial capacity of the group. We are now beginning to support a more systematic search for sites.

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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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