Lewisham Council is developing a new strategy to help community groups deliver more affordable housing, writes Omar Kalam…
The local authority is developing a new community-led housing strategy to battle the local housing crisis and improve residents’ health through stable housing.
In a meeting this month, the Green mayor and cabinet formally kick-started the process of creating a formal partnership framework between the council and community-led housing organisations.
The partnership will help to identify suitable development sites, whilst supporting innovative housing models, such as community land trusts and co-operatives.
A spokesperson for Lewisham Council said: “Through this approach, the council aims to increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes, support community wealth building and create more inclusive and accessible housing”.
Councillor Daniel Dream said: “Lewisham is facing a housing crisis, and the current system is not delivering the affordable homes people need.”
The Cabinet member for Inclusive Regeneration, Planning and Housing Delivery added: “From next week will be convening a community forum to build this model alongside them and keep refining it together”.
Lewisham Council has a history of supporting community led housing through projects such as the Stanstead Road autism housing scheme and the Deptford Ragged Trust affordable housing scheme.
