The nexus of community-led planning and rural affordable housing: towards an enhanced process

The intention was to reveal existing practices, outcomes and possibilities for utilising the Community-Led Planning (CLP) process to encourage the consideration of affordable housing at the community level. The project looks at areas the relationship between the local authority strategic housing function and Community-Led Planning – an area that has not been subject to any real examination in the past.

The report concentrates on housing issues and the Community-Led Planning process and how wider partnerships can work well with communities.       This is set in the context of an increased emphasis on partnership working and the central role of local authorities in delivering housing. This includes developing a shared recognition of the limits, tensions and potential in enhancing the role of Community-Led Planning in housing delivery.

The results of the project demonstrate that there are benefits already emerging from Community-Led Planning, particularly in relation to increased awareness of housing need and supporting the delivery of rural affordable housing. There are also clear actions emerging from Community-Led Plans and evidence of good practice and partnership working (as demonstrated with illustrative national case studies).  But it is also clear that more could be done. This work has revealed that there is potential for the issues to be further highlighted through even closer working between development workers, parish councils and strategic housing professionals at the local authority level.

This study has been carried out by the University of Reading in partnership with the Community Council for Berkshire (CCB).