New fund gives communities power to deliver affordable homes

Over 1,200 new affordable homes will be delivered across England with communities put in charge of where and how they will be built, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) announced.

The £4m Community Housing Fund (CHF) programme will help community groups build homes in their local area by covering a range of costs incurred in the process, including renting the town hall for a public meeting, paying for searches, administration costs or legal advice, design work and planning applications.

Once planning permission is granted, community groups can fund the build through the government’s Affordable Homes Programme, a Housing Association or developer or via a bank loan.

The new houses will be part of locally-based organisations such as land trusts or housing co-operatives meaning they stay under the control of the community.

Housing Minister Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP said: ‘Part of our Levelling Up mission is to build the quality homes that communities want and need. Community led housing is a great way to ensure local housing needs are met by putting local people in the driving seat.

‘It is about residents playing a leading and lasting role creating genuinely affordable homes which regenerate and restore pride in communities.’

The fund will help deliver 52 housing projects in England, from Cornwall to Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Bradford’s Greenwood Community Led Housing group, will build 62 supported homes for people with autism, learning disabilities or dementia.

In Leeds, 34 affordable homes are being built to regenerate a deprived part of the city following extensive involvement of residents in the design of the buildings.

Tom Chance from Community Led Homes commented: ‘Community led housing groups are rooted in their communities and truly understand local housing needs. There are so many fantastic community led housing projects planned across the country. This programme will help many of these projects come to fruition.’

The announcement follows the publication of the Bacon Review which recommended that reigniting the Community Housing Fund will create more opportunities for communities to build.

Photo by Daniel McCullough