CDS partners with CLTs for new community led housing
CDS Co-operatives has partnered with the Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS) on the ambitious Church Grove scheme of 36 homes in Lewisham.
Church Grove is an impressive example of voluntary community action for sustainable, affordable housing. It was developed by RUSS, a Community Land Trust (CLT), who found the site, and went on get planning permission and lead the development over several years financed by loans from a mixture of social investors and banks and a GLA capital grant.
Residents moved into the 36 new homes in Ladywell in Lewisham in 2024. Professional contractors were used on construction, but there were also elements of self-build with some residents working on their low-cost ownership flats, while others volunteered their time for communal areas such as the bike shed, bin stores, planting and playground. Some CDS staff briefly volunteered on building a timber community hub on site.
Having been a long-time supporter of the scheme, CDS Co-operatives played a key role in ensuring the delivery of the scheme. Grant requirements for the rented flats meant they had to be owned by a Registered Provider (RP). Although RUSS have ambitions to become an RP themselves someday, CDS Co-operatives purchased a lease of 8 flats to act as RP landlord for the scheme’s social and intermediate rent flats. CDS is also providing estate management and maintenance services for the whole scheme on behalf of RUSS.
RUSS has over 1000 members and continues to be largely volunteer-run, maintaining open members meetings and education and outreach programmes, while hiring consultants for specialist activities. Many of the residents were actively involved in clienting the development and got to know each very well during the process. Tenants were nominated late in the process by Lewisham Council, and the aim is to fully integrate tenants into the community too. Tenants can become members of RUSS and vote for or stand to be on the Board, creating a feedback loop unlike many other places, as RUSS is effectively CDS’ employer and landlord.
These are the first new CDS homes for decades, and tenants seem to be settling in well. One CDS resident told us: “it was wonderful to meet CDS colleagues who made us feel so welcome to be joining as tenants and also as a part of this community. It is evident that you care about everyone’s future happiness at Church Grove.”
CDS is well placed to partner with Community Land Trusts like RUSS, or others developing small mixed-tenure schemes. As well as a track record of empowering residents through housing co-op management and governance services to over 30 co-ops and their ~1,800 homes, CDS also directly owns 700 social rented homes and 300 leasehold properties in London and the South East, from Folkestone to Milton Keynes. Our Community Led Homes team has supported many early-stage Community Land Trusts, Co-ops, and Cohousing groups, and we are familiar with offering services to community led organisations.
CDS is now working with NW3 CLT to act as the landlord of 2 social rented flats in a 14 homes scheme the CLT is developing in Camden. CDS will also carry out management services for the CLT on the whole scheme.
CDS is open to being a Registered Provider landlord on small schemes, particular where there may be ways to make schemes more community led through Build Belonging.
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