The UK government has announced a groundbreaking £20 million package to accelerate community-led housing, enabling local people to design and build thousands of high-quality, affordable homes. This innovative approach puts power in the hands of local communities, allowing them to take the lead in deciding where and how new homes are built.
Community-led housing is a game-changer, as it addresses local needs and provides social and affordable homes. This approach also enables community groups to access land and secure planning permission, bypassing speculative developments. The government’s investment will help overcome significant barriers, such as accessing capital, and support the growth of the community-led housing sector.
*Key Benefits of Community-Led Housing:*
– _Empowers local communities_: Gives local people a greater say in where and how new homes are built.
– _Addresses local needs_: Provides social and affordable homes tailored to local requirements.
– _Innovative approach_: Enables community groups to access land and secure planning permission.
The £20 million investment will be channeled into a social finance fund, led by Resonance, which has extensive experience in supporting community organizations. This fund aims to attract up to £30 million in match-funding from the private sector, local authorities, and combined mayoral authorities.
*Government Support for Affordable Housing:*
– _Increased investment_: £5 billion allocated for housing this year, with an additional £800 million for the Affordable Homes Programme.
– _New grant funding_: £2 billion to build up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes.
– _Reformed planning system_: New National Planning Policy Framework imposes mandatory housebuilding targets and strengthens support for community-led housing.
As part of its Long-Term Housing Strategy, the government is exploring further measures to support the growth of community-led housing. This commitment to community-led housing and affordable housing is a significant step towards addressing the UK’s housing crisis and providing high-quality homes for local people.
