£38m community housing fund launched as Khan says London ‘too reliant’ on large developers

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched a new £38m fund for community-led housing, which he says will enable Londoners to play a ‘leading role’ in building new social rented and other genuinely affordable homes for local people.

In a statement, Mayor Khan said London has ‘become far too reliant on large developers to build new housing.’

‘We need more homes to be built by councils and by communities themselves – and so I want to support more community-led housing projects that put London residents at the heart of the process,’ he added.

The London Community Housing Fund will make up to £30m available as grants and support for community groups to build new housing, with the remaining funding used to provide financial help for planning applications or design fees.

It is hoped the fund will unlock 500 community-led homes by 2023.

The fund opened earlier this week for bids, alongside a new prospectus published online by City Hall providing guidance for community groups who wish to bid, and advice for Londoners who would like to form their own group.

Read the prospectus here.

Mayor Khan added: ‘We have listened to what community-led housing groups say they need, and in response, this new fund offers practical support and help with development costs that have often held community-led projects back. I urge Londoners interested in developing their own homes to read our new guidance and bid for funding’

The news has been welcomed by the National CLT Network, which has led the campaign for investment in the sector together with its members and partners for a number of years.

Tom Chance, Director at the National CLT Network, said: ‘The National CLT Network is delighted to see the long-awaited announcement of this fund, which will no doubt be transformative for new and existing community-led housing projects across the capital.

‘Community-led housing puts communities firmly in the driver’s seat. It’s communities that are best placed to understand and deliver the affordable housing that is so desperately needed. This is a fantastic opportunity for Londoners to shape their city.’

In the past year, the Mayor of London has earmarked land for community land trusts through the Small Sites, Small Builders initiative and awarded more than £1m in a Lewisham-based community-led housing project which includes some self-build elements.

Last year NewStart visited one of the most famous CLT examples in the country – Granby 4 Streets in Liverpool.

http://newstartmag.co.uk/articles/report-how-the-granby-4-streets-clt-put-granby-back-on-the-map/