Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the role played by community land trusts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) the future contribution of such trusts to economic recovery; and what support they have provided, and intend to provide, to such trusts.

The Government has not made any systematic assessment of the role played by community land trusts (CLTs) specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic, but recognises that CLTs make a valuable contribution in organising and delivering support of various kinds for members of the community in need. For example, CLTs are able to support small, local construction companies and local supply chains, and help sustain local economies by providing homes that are affordable at local income levels.

Since 2016, the Government has supported CLTs (and other forms of community-led housing organisations) through the Community Housing Fund. Through the support provided by Homes England outside London, the Community Housing Fund has succeeded in building up a delivery pipeline of over 10,000 homes that can be delivered relatively quickly once capital funding is made available.

The Community Housing Fund closed at the end of March. Ministers are considering all budgets in the round and allocations for 2020/21 will be confirmed at Main Estimates in the next few weeks. Allocations for future years will be considered at the forthcoming Spending Review. Some community-led housing schemes will be able to obtain capital funding from the Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme, also delivered by Homes England.