The Community Right to Build is a new way for communities to choose for themselves where and when to build homes, shops, facilities and businesses – putting power back into the hands of local people where it belongs.
Community Right to Build is an enabling Right supporting local people to undertake community led development (communities collectively owning, developing and/or managing their own land and developments).
As an alternative to the traditional application for planning permission, it gives communities the power to decide for themselves what happens in their neighbourhood.
The Community Right to Build came into force on 6th April and forms part of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations made following the Localism Act 2011.
Communities will be able to build:
- family homes to sell on the open market
- affordable housing for rent or to convert disused farm buildings into affordable homes
- sheltered housing for elderly local residents
- low cost starter homes for young local families struggling to get on the housing ladder
- facilities such as a new community centre or a children’s playground
It depends entirely what local people decide their community needs. The benefits of these developments, such as any profits generated, will be managed by a community organisation on behalf of the whole community.
Support and advice
Find out more from the Understanding the Community Right to Build download and How does it work? route map which directs you to the information you need whatever stage of the journey you’re at.
£17.5m of funding has been made available by DCLG through the Homes and Communities Agency and for those in London through the Greater London Authority - find out more about financial support.
Learn from groups which are using the Right to Build through our case studies and for any specific questions get advice from one of our experts.
Funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, in association with partners Urban Forum and HACT:
