Community First Oxfordshire is hosting, together with a number of partner organisations (Oxfordshire Community Land Trust, Community Impact Bucks, Oxfordshire Community Foundation and Connecting Communities Berkshire) a community led housing support service.
The partners who make up Collaborative Housing provide information, advice and technical support to those who wish to deliver community-led housing projects. The partnership is new, funded by Government and is still developing. The aim is that local experts from across the Thames Valley will offer packages tailored to your needs. Collaborative Housing aims to take you from initial concept to homes on the ground. Collaborative Housing will be working with existing and new Community Land Trusts, cooperative and cohousing groups in both towns and villages to deliver small scale affordable housing developments. It’s a different kind of approach to housing development, grassroots led and collaborative.
Forming a group Including community-led housing delivery routes, organisational and legal entity structures, group processes and decision-making methods, community engagement, group visioning, governance and accountability.
Evidencing and consultation Including Housing Needs Surveys, research and data analysis and consultation strategy
Finding a site Including identifying sites and negotiating acquisition of land and property
Funding Including sourcing housing development funding, obtaining initial pro bono professional support, support for budgeting and financial planning, guiding grant proposals
Project planning Including signposting to specialist legal and professional services, preparing viable business plans and financial appraisal, signposting to design/architectural expertise, advice on project management, identifying and managing risks and negotiating with the Local Authority
Development Including advice on development finance, managing development projects and construction, selecting partners and consultants, preparing feasibility studies, design and building options, pre-planning / planning application development, managing contracts and negotiating with developers
Ongoing management Including advice on managing finance, managing buildings, group processes, regulatory requirements, allocations and membership.
For more information go to either Community First Oxfordshire www.communityfirstoxon.org or Collaborative Housing https://collaborativehousing.org.uk/contact.html