We're pleased to see that the Government has today confirmed that the Right to Buy will be reformed. We've been calling for these reforms, to reduce the loss of much-needed social homes, and encourage councils to build new homes.
- www.gov.uk/government/n...
Always nice to start the day with some good news 🫠 #EGU26
I'm looking forward to speaking to EcoHolmes CLT tomorrow (13th) at Holmfirth Tech, around 7:30 on 'Some Lessons from the History of Council Housing'. Non-members welcome. Details in attached link:
ecoholmes.org.uk/muncipal-dre...
Following the by-election I'm in the New Statesman this morning, urging people to dig into the thinking of Miatta Fahnbulleh, one of the central figures around Andy Burnham.
I argue that Fahnbullehism is a brand of radical co-operativism, likely to be influential to AB's agenda should he become PM.
The idea is very simple: treat residents and the surrounding community like partners - participants with agency - in the commissioning, design, build and stewardship of the place. Most community-led development is a partnership between communities and industry, building on common ground.
Ten years ago, Bristol Community Land Trust completed these 12 affordable homes (rent/shared ownership). More than homes, they supported locals priced out to create a community, with 7 children born there since and a strong sense of stability, connection and mutual aid. Why isn't this the norm? 🧵
Seeing the community in Bristol, ten years on, reminds me why we do this work. To unpick and rewire that system to make this commonplace. Not just an interesting niche of demonstrators, but a sea change in how we see placemaking and stewardship.
The Housing Forum
But this concept is currently resisted at every level of the system - in the allocation of resources, industry practices, policy frameworks, partnerships, power dynamics and mental models. It's as true of charitable funding and housing association practice as it is of Homes England and developers.
I've written for @redbrickblog.bsky.social on how the government could not just protect co-operative models like CLTs in its leasehold reforms, but could better achieve its aims with a broader view of housing and estate management.
redbrickblog.co.uk/2026/04/engl...
This was a small, awkward site, and many other CLTs have achieved similarly wonderful results on them. Elsewhere CLTs, cohousing and co-ops are working with volume housebuilders and large housing associations bringing similar ideas into much larger developments. It can work anywhere.
