CLT Brussels promoting their project
CLTB in collaboration with Habitat Participation and Ressemblement Wallon pour le Droit a l’Habitat held an information session on the SHICC Technical Assistance Voucher Scheme targeted towards Walloon groups on Friday 17 May in Namur. CLTB presented the CALICO project at the Annual Convention for Inclusive Growth organised by the European Commission on 20 May in Brussels.
They also welcomed a delegation of French local officials and organisations that are a part of Enacting the Commons project 28-29 may.
London CLT sites shortlisted for multiple awards
St Clements, London CLT’s Community Land Trust in Tower Hamlets, a former workhouse and hospital, has been shortlisted for the Planning awards for Community-Led Place making and Best Use of Heritage in Place making. Our Lewisham site / Brasted Close, designed by Archio has been shortlisted for the Housing Design Awards. London CLT is now undertaking research to define allocation criteria for Brasted Close. A survey has been made public, in addition to community consultations to better understand what the allocation criteria should be for the newest London CLT homes.
Accountability Assembly in South London
On May 7th at 6:30PM, South London citizens came together at Southwark Cathedral to hold to account leaders of five local councils, plus representatives from the Greater London Authority, on the issues of: affordable housing; youth violence and safety; and sanctuary and welcome. The deputy mayor of London James Murray announced that the land and money for a London CLT site in Streatham Hill will be released by the end of June. Waltham Forest Citizens Campaign Group Wins At the Assembly on 13 May Waltham Forest achieved a number of commitments from councillors including:
- Cllr Miller committed to build 2800 social rent homes: 1400 on public; 1400 on private land.
- Agreement to find 2 CLT sites in the borough.
- Cllr Coghill demonstrated Council is delivering 50% affordable on public land.
CLT Gent
On Saturday 25 May CLT Gent held their AGM with the members of CLT Gent. The architects of their first project at Meulestede presented the building plans. They also presented an update on where the SHICC project has gotten to.
National CLT Network campaigns making good progress
The UK Government has announced it will exempt all community led housing development, including CLTs, from the forthcoming ban on leasehold houses and ground rents. In a huge victory for the CLT movement, this will mean that communities can continue to use the leasehold system ethically to provide and protect affordable houses, and to steward land for community benefit. The announcement comes after over 18 months of lobbying by the National CLT Network and our members.
The Network has also been working hard with their members and partners to get the Community Housing Fund extended. They recently received data from a call for information, which was launched to clarify the demand from the sector, which found over 15,000 homes are in the pipeline. This highlights the importance of the fund being extended.
FMDV attends International Social Housing Festival
The International Social Housing Festival has taken place in Lyon from June 4th to June 7th. FMDV attended and reflects on their experience here.