The 5 Stages of Community Housing: Our Best Free Resource So Far

In this blog post, we share more details on what could well be one of our best free resources in our 25 years in business! Continue reading to find out more about how our downloadable aid, funded by Nationwide Foundation, can help you in your community housing project journey.

With our long-standing experience in delivering housing projects, we realise that embarking on a community housing project can be a non-linear process, and can sometimes come with trials and tribulations. You might be wondering where on earth you would even start the process!

Well, you will be glad to know that we have created a free Routemap, based on our experiences of working with over 100 different communities, to walk you through the 5 main stages of a community-led housing project.

Our free resource, which helps to demystify the stages of community-led housing projects, is the first guide of the sort to be available in Scotland. After all, "communities can have more control over housing with the right tools".

We understand that these projects can feel overwhelming and complicated, even more so for communities with limited time and resources. In the words of our CEO, our resource is "based on sound and varied experience". Our resource aims to provide communities with a more robust understanding in a way that empowers them to play a leading role in solving housing problems while creating affordable homes. 

So, what are these 5 stages? Although the process itself might not always be simple and straightforward, understanding the stages will inevitably make the process less daunting and enable you to visualise the project from start to finish. 

Stage 1: Enquiry

This stage is all about establishing the aspirations and requirements and assessing needs while considering possible funding solutions, engaging with the community and offering information and advice.The starting block of the community-led project.

Stage 2: Feasibility

This stage moves on from the initial stages to start getting surveys and land audits arranged, finalising funding and getting a formal business plan in place. 

Stage 3: Development

We then develop into securing funding for any legal fees and land acquisition, arranging route to tender for the project and applying for planning and pre-construction consents.

Stage 4: Construction

Then the manual work begins. We commence the building phase of the project,  continuing to liaise with contractors and the community, before handing over the properties, and of course, celebrating the build by having a community open day!

Stage 5: Housing Management

The final stage is when we advertise and allocate properties to their new community owners. Residents move in and this stage continues with ongoing housing management and maintenance. 

Our RouteMap covers this information in more detail and answers some of the more frequently asked questions for you. We take a holistic and creative approach that goes beyond simply housing, but making and maintaining real communities with local amenities. 

Ready to start bringing your community housing project to life? Download our Routemap here.