FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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New London CLT Guide Shows How Small Development Sites Could Help Deliver More Affordable Homes

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Westminster reception to launch best practice guide bringing together politicians, housing leaders and community-led housing advocates.

London Community Land Trust (London CLT) will launch a new best practice guide, Unlocking Development Sites for Affordable Housing, at a Westminster reception on 24 June 2026.

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The guide comes at a critical moment for housing delivery in London. Fewer than 6,000 housing starts were recorded in 2025 against an annual target of 88,000 homes, while many new developments continue to provide homes that are unaffordable to local people. The report argues that small development sites represent a significant untapped opportunity to deliver genuinely affordable, community-led homes and strengthen local communities.

 

Key Findings and Recommendations

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The guide highlights the potential for Community Land Trusts (CLTs) and community-led housing organisations to play a much greater role in addressing London's housing crisis. Key recommendations include:

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• Making more publicly owned small sites available for community-led housing through local authority land programmes and the Greater London Authority's Small Sites Small Builders initiative.

• Introducing stronger planning policy support for Community Land Trusts and community-led housing, including site allocations and supplementary planning guidance.

• Reducing development risk by providing early access to surveys, technical information and standardised land transfer processes.

• Increasing access to development finance and grant funding to help community-led organisations bring forward genuinely affordable homes at scale.

• Supporting permanent affordability by linking housing costs to local incomes and ensuring homes remain affordable for future generations.

 

The guide draws on London CLT's experience delivering award-winning community-led housing developments and explores how councils, policymakers, housing providers and communities can work together to unlock underused sites and bring forward affordable housing.

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It argues that, with the right support from local authorities and the Greater London Authority, Community Land Trusts could deliver thousands of additional affordable homes across London. The report notes that two recent CLT developments in Lewisham alone have delivered 48 genuinely affordable homes on public land, demonstrating the model's potential to scale across the capital.

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The launch event will bring together politicians, policymakers, housing professionals, architects and community-led housing advocates to discuss practical solutions and policy recommendations for unlocking the potential of small development sites.

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The discussion will be chaired by Baroness Polly Neate, Member of the House of Lords and former Chief Executive of Shelter.

 

Confirmed Panellists​

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• Zoë Garbett, Mayor of Hackney

• Anthony Okereke, Leader of Greenwich Council

• Tom Chance, Chief Executive, Community Land Trust Network

• Russell Curtis, Founding Director, RCKa Architects

• Father Richard Springer, Rector, St George in the East

• Juliet Can, Director, Stour Trust and London CLT home-owner

• Oliver Bulleid, Executive Director, London CLT

• Sem Lee, Executive Director, Ouri Labs

 

Oliver Bulleid, Executive Director of London CLT, said:

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"London needs new approaches to delivering genuinely affordable homes. Small development sites offer significant opportunities that are often overlooked. This guide demonstrates how communities, local authorities and housing partners can work together to unlock these sites and create permanently affordable homes that meet local needs."

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Community land trusts are locally led organisations that develop and steward homes and community assets for long-term community benefit. By separating the value of land from the cost of housing, CLTs help ensure homes remain permanently affordable for future generations.

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London CLT has delivered award-winning affordable housing developments across the capital and continues to work with communities, councils and partners to expand community-led housing opportunities.

 

Event Details

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Unlocking Development Sites for Affordable Housing: A London Community Land Trust Guide

 

Date: Wednesday 24 June 2026Time: 6.00 pm–9.00 pmVenue: The Abbey Centre, Westminster

 

Notes to Editors

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London Community Land Trust (London CLT) is a not-for-profit, community-led organisation creating genuinely and permanently affordable homes for Londoners.

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For media enquiries, interview requests or further information, please contact:

Christine Bowles
Communications and Operations Manager
London Community Land Trust
christine@londonclt.org
www.londonclt.org