Croydon Council leader Tony Newman is spearheading a unified local government approach to tackling the housing crisis.
The Commission on Community-led Housing, of which Councillor Newman is chair, is urging local authorities to share their views and experiences of cooperative and community-led housing in a bid to fill the shortfall.
It comes after the Department for Communities and Local Government announced a £300million Community Housing Fund which is available over the next five years, while the latest UK-wide Big Society Capital loan facility provides another significant funding opportunity.
“We are in the midst of a housing crisis,” said Cllr Newman.
“The housing market and existing policies have failed to meet the housing need of local communities. The Housing White Paper proposals are only part of the solution and so we need new approaches that harness community resources and commitment.”
Set up by the Co-operative Councils’ Innovation Network, the Commission’s practical approach is aimed at boosting what is happening on the ground: sharing good practice and innovation to enable councils to make best use of funding to create more homes
Submissions from local authorities will inform the Commission’s recommendations to Government on its policy relating to cooperative and community-led housing.
For more details visit www.ccinhousing.co.uk/get-involved/