Redefining the Commons

The use of community land trusts ensures that not only can housing remain affordable in perpetuity but also that local communities have collective control of land and property assets within their neighbourhood. This consultation identifies ways in which they can be more widely used.

High land values are a major factor preventing access to affordable housing worldwide and community land trusts are increasingly recognised as a possible means of overcoming this problem by capturing land values for local community benefit. Experience has shown that not only can they guarantee long-term affordability; they can also act as a successful means of community empowerment by giving people collective control of land and property assets within their neighbourhoods.