London mayor launches £38m community-led housing fund

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched a new £38m fund for community-led housing, which is now open for bids from interested local groups. Cohousing schemes allow residents to get directly involved in building and managing their new homes, often through co-operatives and community land trusts. The money is expected to unlock 500 of these properties by 2023 and will make grants or loans available to support construction, development and delivery.

Some of the funding will be used to provide financial assistance for the costs of planning applications or design fees. “We have listened to what community-led housing groups say they need, and in response this new financing offers practical support and help with development costs that have often held this kind of project back,” says Sadiq.