Kit Malthouse, housing minister, has announced £6 million of funding for the Community Led Homes Programme.
Funding of up to £10,000, managed by four charities, will be provided for groups to cover start-up costs. A further £3.5 million will be made available for technical advice and guiding communities through the house building process.
The funding will be accessible until 2021 and managed by the Confederation of Co-operative Housing, Locality, National Community Land Trust Network and UK Cohousing.
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) is delighted to see the Government take community housing seriously and welcomes efforts to diversify the housing market.
When the housing white paper was first announced, the House Builders Association (HBA) made community housing one of their priorities because its members, small and medium-sized house builders (SMEs), build the majority of these homes.
Like the majority of SME projects, these homes are also delivered on small sites and driven by local demand.
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “The Government is listening to the industry and unlocking important funding for a range of developments. Encouraging community housing is a positive step towards tackling the housing crisis.”
Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing and planning policy for the HBA, said: “Community housing is win, win because it unlocks local development and supports the regional construction supply chain. After three years of repeating this message to every minister that would listen, it’s great to see the Government grab the housing supply opportunity that community housing offers.”