Thousands of new high-quality homes, including social and affordable housing, will be designed and built by local people for local people, thanks to a new £20 million government investment.
This initiative aims to accelerate the delivery of community-led housing projects over the next decade.
The Housing Minister has confirmed that the £20 million package will support community groups, such as community land trusts and housing co-operatives, in constructing more than 2,500 new homes. These projects will be led by communities to address local needs, placing power in the hands of local people to design and locate new homes.
This is the first time the government has supported community-led housebuilding at this scale, helping to overcome critical barriers such as accessing capital for housebuilding. The investment is part of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to build 1.5 million new homes and boost growth and living standards across the country.
Matthew Pennycook, Housing and Planning Minister, commented:
“Community-led housing not only delivers social and affordable homes for local people, it also gives local communities a greater say on where new homes are built and how they are designed.
“This investment will help community-based organisations overcome barriers to housing delivery and will support the growth of the community-led housing sector.
“Through our Plan for Change we are boosting housing supply and reforming the housing system, delivering on our commitment to the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.”
The £20 million investment will be managed by Resonance, an organisation experienced in working with community groups. This funding will attract up to £30 million in match-funding from the private sector and local authorities.
The investment follows the government’s overhaul of the planning system with a new National Planning Policy Framework, which includes mandatory housebuilding targets for councils and strengthened support for community-led housing.
Government investment in housing has increased to £5 billion this year, including an £800 million top-up for the Affordable Homes Programme. An extra £2 billion has also been confirmed to build up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes.
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