All over the country, communities are creating well-built, future proof homes designed around the needs of local people. Early in 2019, Power to Change will be formally opening its Community-led Housing Programme to support them.
Who can apply?
We are focussing on community groups in the early stages of their community-led housing development to support feasibility and pre-development work, leading up to submitting a planning application. Our research has shown that is where funds are needed most to get projects moving.
We are mainly interested in applications from these areas:
- Birmingham, Solihull, and the Black Country
- Leeds City Region
- Liverpool City Region
- Teesside
- West of England
We’re also interested in supporting innovative community-led housing projects from anywhere in England.
What is available?
Successful applicants will get a mixture of grants and support. The grants can help you to:
- fund community engagement and project management time
- buy in the professional skills you need to assess the feasibility of your site and viability of your project, to make plans for the homes you want to create, and be ready to take on the project
- match fund the government’s Community Housing Fund
In the five main areas we are focusing on, we are also supporting local Community-led Housing Enablers. CLH Enablers will support community-led housing groups from the germ of an idea to the occupation of homes by residents, and beyond. They will provide advice on all aspects of community-led housing, help groups to understand how to work in their local context and successfully deliver new homes from scratch or by repurposing or refurbishing empty properties.
Some money is also set aside for more innovative projects elsewhere in England, where communities are tackling tricky sites or have ambitious plans that will bring fundamental change to their area through housing projects.
The programme will open in Spring 2019, with guidance notes and supporting information provided on this page. Sign up to our newsletter to get notification of the launch.
Why Community Led Housing?
Everyone, wherever they are, has a right to somewhere they can call home, where they are safe, secure and able to enjoy a good quality of life. The cost of housing is higher than ever. Many of us are now spending over 35% of our net household income on rent and mortgages. This inevitably leads to an increased risk of arrears and the need to cut back on essentials. Many people are paying so much for accommodation that the rest of their lives are impoverished. Alternatively, they may be forced to move away from their local social and support networks to find accommodation that is within their means.
Community-led housing offers a solution to this. Communities can build their own housing, cutting out profit driven developers to reduce costs. Community-owned housing can also generate long term income from rental income and other sources to reinvest in services and activities needed by local people. Community-led housing can also be a good choice for older people who need to downsize or move into supported accommodation.
Why Community Led Housing?
The cost of housing is higher than ever. Many of us are now spending over 35% of our net household income on rent and mortgages. This inevitably leads to an increases risk of arrears and the need to cut back on essentials. Many people are paying so much for accommodation that the rest of their lives are impoverished. Alternatively they may have to move away from their local social and support networks to find accommodation that is within their means.
Community-led housing offers a solution to this. Communities can build their own housing, cutting out profit driven developers to reduce costs. Community-owned housing can also generate long term income from rental income and other sources to reinvest in services and activities needed by local people. CLH can also be a good choice for older people who need to downsize or move into supported accommodation.
