It's become increasingly popular for surplus land to be considered by town & parish councils for community-led housing. We explore the reasons why.
We are seeing an increasing number of town and parish councils explore the possibility of using their surplus land for community-led housing (CLH).
The impetus may come from the community itself, or it may come from local councillors. In either case, the individuals involved are likely to be motivated by a desire to increase the supply of affordable housing in the local area. They wish to develop low cost homes for occupation by local people, in the long term.
Community-led housing covers community land trusts, housing co-operatives, cohousing developments and collective self-build schemes. What all these groups have in common is that members of a community come together to develop their own solution to the housing crisis.
Why would a council want to work with a CLH group?
- It enables a council to retain control over new housing developments, instead of being subject to the designs and ideas of private developers or housing associations.
- It is a meaningful way to improve lives in an area,
- Community-led housing is not driven by profit: it is there to provide homes for those who need them most.
- It puts council land to good use
By working closely with CLH groups, local councils can help deliver a practical solution to the housing crisis through the development of new homes, where meaningful community involvement is at the heart of any new housing development. A council's involvement could range from simply providing the land, to taking a more active role in promoting and developing community-led housing by establishing their own community-led housing vehicle, in partnership with local community groups.
For instance?
To give an example, we worked with a parish council in Yorkshire who had identified a small plot of land on which four houses could be built. They conducted a housing needs survey, to identify the type of housing which was in local demand.
With a clear idea of local need, the council then established a community land trust, to which it will grant a long lease of the land to the CLT. The houses will eventually be developed in partnership with a local housing association, to be let to local people in housing need.
Setting up a separate entity ensured that the CLT will outlast any changes in the political landscape. The council retained oversight over its activities through its role as a custodian member, with the right to appoint trustees to the board. Two of the councillors acted as trustees when it was first set up.
What can Wrigleys help with?
- Advice on structure and process
- Establishment of new community-led housing vehicles
- Partnership agreements between housing associations/CLH groups/council
- Community asset transfers, where land is to be transferred to a CLH group
- Leases to tenants
- Councils acting as charitable trustee
- Closed school sites and what to do with them.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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