Working Together for Community-led Housing

Back in May, Laura Dalgetty and Méabh Weldon of South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH) and Elizabeth Taggart of Communities Housing Trust (CHT) travelled to the Isle of Skye to attend the Community Land Scotland (CLS) Annual Conference 2025. Community Land Scotland is a membership organisation for community landowners, creating a collective voice across Scotland.

Arriving under a clear blue sky, the scene was set for an inspirational weekend at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Titled ‘Roots to Resilience’, the conference celebrated community land ownership in Scotland, while looking ahead to what is still to be achieved.

The weekend was packed with unforgettable stories from both urban and rural communities. Delegates shared honest reflections on their journeys: the highs, the inevitable lows, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. Despite the challenges, there was a strong sense of optimism and shared commitment to the future of community ownership. One standout example was the West Coast Community Energy project, where three community landowners on the Isle of Lewis came together to develop their own community-owned wind farm - an extraordinary demonstration of what can be achieved when communities unite around a shared goal.

With the 2026 elections on the horizon, discussions naturally turned to what’s needed to support further growth in community ownership - from policy changes to funding opportunities. From a community-led housing perspective, it was an excellent opportunity to explore how community landownership and community-led housing are deeply intertwined. Land ownership is the first step to a housing project; a tangible claim to a piece of Scotland. In a country where land is still held by a concentrated few, taking ownership is a powerful act of reclaiming agency and shaping the future. But, ownership is only the beginning. Transformation happens when that land becomes something visible and lasting: affordable homes that meet local needs, reflect local voices, and strengthen the fabric of a community. For Scotland’s two leading Community-led Housing enablers - SOSCH and CHT - it is about making the abstract ideas of justice and equality real - brick by brick, home by home.

With this in mind, the conference was the perfect opportunity to launch the Community Led Housing Alliance. Coordinated by SOSCH and CHT in collaboration with Community Land Scotland and Development Trusts Association Scotland, and with the support of the Nationwide Foundation, the Alliance is dedicated to strengthening the voice and impact of community-led housing across Scotland. It enables communities to come together and campaign - especially in the run-up to the 2026 election - for change that delivers more community-led homes.

An announcement was made by CLS during the second day of the conference, ensuring all attendees were aware of the initiative, its purpose, and the shared benefits. SOSCH and CHT hosted a joint exhibition stall to speak directly with community representatives from across Scotland. The response was overwhelmingly positive. It was clear from the energy in the room that affordable, community-led housing is not just important, it’s transformational. SOSCH and CHT received enthusiastic support and community organisations from across Scotland signed up as the first Members of the Alliance. Others have joined since, using the online Alliance Membership form, which remains open. Membership of the Alliance is free and open to any community organisation in Scotland with an interest in housing, from those having initial conversations about local housing issues to those who have already delivered a housing project.

What stood out most at the conference was the level of commitment - not only from those curious to learn more, but also from individuals and groups already involved in their own inspiring community-led housing projects. By working together and understanding the shared challenges faced by communities across urban, rural, and island areas, the Community Housing Alliance will be a united voice for community-led housing.
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While there won’t be a national CLS conference next year, smaller, local events will bring these conversations closer to communities and continue to build momentum for community-led development. SOSCH and CHT are excited to watch the Community Housing Alliance and the wider community land ownership movement continue to grow, strengthening communities across Scotland.

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