Ecomotive supports Local Authorities to forge resilient partnership with local communities to find strong solutions to the housing crisis

Consultancy support for Local Authorities

Community-led and self build housing have been increasingly recognised as a crucial route to housing creation, by Local Authorities around the UK. Not only is this a route to the creation of new homes, community-led schemes often have a very high proportion of affordable homes, they develop skills and create local employment, and meet a huge range of other local non-housing needs. Local Authorities are beginning to see community housing groups as partners that can help them deliver on local priorities.

The Right to Build legislation that came into force in 2015 now requires Local Authorities to create opportunities for self and custom build and to work directly with members of the public and community groups to provide new housing solutions, and this is an extra incentive for Local Authorities to work creatively to support local community schemes.

With over 18 years’ experience in self build and community housing, and having worked with a number of public sector clients, Ecomotive can provide you with the support you need to deliver your Right to Build responsibilities and develop an effective self and custom build strategy:

  • Local interest assessment and registration: We can help you assess local housing need. Additionally our Local Self Build Register enables local authorities to establish an online local register for custom build/self build and a solid evidence base for decision making.

  • Feasibility studies for self/custom build/community-led housing projects and direct support to help create viable community led housing solutions in your area.

  • Training (at your own location or or hosted in the inspirational setting of the award-winning Ashley Vale self build community in Bristol) to support your staff to understand this rapidly growing new sector.

  • Inspiration. Through hosted tours of Ashley Vale or visits to other exemplar schemes, we can show you what is possible.

  • Project management of self build groups.

  • Support services to self build groups – including facilitation, holding effective meetings, recruiting members and mediation services.

Contact us to discuss your needs and find out how we can support you to scale up self and custom build in your area.

Recent clients

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Wokingham Borough Council

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

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