Resources and support for public landowners

The Community-Led-Housing (CLH) Accelerator project is a pilot programme led by Archio Architects in partnership with Be First (London Borough of Barking and Dagenham's regeneration company), and Community-Led Housing London (CLH) London.

The Small Sites Small Builders programme (SSSB) funded the project to develop and "accelerate" the process of community-led-housing delivery.

As part of it, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham released four sites for community-led housing in March 2024.

Community engagement is a key part of capacity building and raises awareness of the land disposals. By developing the capacity of local residents through collaborative workshops, the project leads were able to articulate the benefits of CLH to internal and external audiences and provide a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) against which the CLH programme can be measured.

This project has now concluded. Read the reports below to find out more about its outputs:

• CLH Accelerator GLA Report case study
• CLH Accelerator GLA Report case study summary
• CLH Accelerator GLA Report project model guidance

The Small Sites Small Builders programme was developed by GLA Housing and Land, and Good Growth, to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), whilst helping public landowners bring forward small sites for development.

The two overall objectives of the programme are to:

• bring small, publicly owned sites forward for residential-led development
• support new and emerging contributors in the market including small builders, developers, small housing associations, and community-led housing groups.

Support available

The programme offers comprehensive support for landowners. It enables them to either develop sites directly, or gain the benefit of the GLA's small builder network by marketing through the GLA's online portal to small builders.

Landowners interested in bringing sites forward through the programme should contact [email protected]. 

The Small Sites Small Builders 2022-25 programme offers funding for public landowners. Download the prospectus for more information on how and when to make a bid. 

Revenue funding is available for:

• site identification and assessment
• site surveys and due diligence to reduce uncertainty in sites going through the programme
• ‘unlocking’ unviable sites going through the programme, where required.

Process support 

• GLA support to consider models for bringing small public-sector sites forward for development
• guidance, tools and learning around small sites development
• online marketing for efficiency and greater reach to small builders
• standard selection process for small builders capable of building good quality homes with creative solutions for complex sites
• standard contracts for easy comparison and minimal negotiation with small builders

Standard contracts which:

• offer a reasonable level of ongoing control
• avoid lengthy procurement processes
• allow the site to be retained by the landowner until development can start
• give the landowner continuing influence over the development
• discourage those who do not intend to get on and build
• allow covenants to secure affordable and/or community-led housing to be included.

How landowners can apply

The Small Sites Small Builders programme grant fund 2022-25 has now closed. The grant funding prospectus set out the grant funding available, and how to apply.

Up to £400,000 was made available for small sites revenue funding, and to support progressive proposals or new ideas, that strengthen small sites delivery in London. Bidding  took place in two rounds and is currently being assessed. 

The programme has established budget through MD3093 Small Sites Small Builders 2022-25 to bring more sites to market, improve the quality of outcomes on those sites, and improve GLA support for small builders and developers. 

Round 1 - site release revenue funding will provide funding to public landowners, including GLA group partners, to identify sites, or already have sites identified which require more funding for due diligence to unlock their release to market. 

Round 2 - best practice in small sites delivery grant funding will support public landowners, small builders/developers, GLA group partners, London council teams, community-led housing groups, and design or development consultants to develop progressive solutions to identified small sites delivery challenges.

Clarifications for both rounds are available for download:

• Clarifications Note 1 
• Clarifications Note 2