Community Land Trust

Overview

Rural Design Centre, Communities CAN and Durham Community Action were selected to work collaboratively on a six-month Growth Lab programme, sponsored by the Cohousing Network and Community Land Trust.

The programme was developed to facilitate innovative solutions for community-led housing within the north-east to try and re-address the UK's broken housing system towards more sustainable and equitable models.

Project partners

• Northumberland County Council

• Community Action Northumberland

• The Rural Design Centre

Project Journey

The research initially focussed on NorthEast England area to develop an offer for interested community groups to reclaim vacant buildings into housing, further revitalising many of the dilapidated high streets in the region.

A proactive viability service was realised, accelerating the existing enabling process for community groups in the early stages, including the development of a financial diagnostic, and an augmented reality visualisation tool.

Impacts

The proposed developments are supported by local government, and feed into high street regeneration schemes.

The service would build an appetite and momentum for community-led developments within the north-east. Thus leading to a potential increase of affordable housing stock within the north east.

The Growth Lab programme has facilitated wider discussions with various partners about the next stages of development.