A report into how Oxfordshire can support delivering more affordable homes developed by and for local communities has been published.

It sets out the current barriers and opportunities for growing the delivery of what is known as community-led housing (CLH) in Oxfordshire.

CLH can include cohousing schemes, housing cooperatives and community land trusts (CLT’s).

The sector, while small, is growing with nearly 7,000 CLT homes to be built or refurbished over the next 5 years (source).

Oxfordshire already has some examples of community-led housing – Stonesfield CLT is one of the oldest community land trusts in the UK, owning and managing 15 homes in West Oxfordshire.

But delivering CLH can be long and complex with a number of challenges to overcome.

The report – commissioned by the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal and funded by Homes England’s Community Housing Fund – identifies and reviews the three key elements of funding, access to land and technical support which often act as barriers to community housing groups.

It also identifies a variety of best practice from around the UK as well as specific recommendations to support the delivery of CLH in Oxfordshire.

You can read the report here.