- The plan was made for a development in Lewisham, in south-east London
Rising house prices and the ongoing cost of living crisis are making affordable housing difficult to find in many parts of the UK.
This is even more the case in the capital, where prices are high and space for development is becoming increasingly scarce.
To combat the problem of rising costs, residents of a council estate in Lewisham have been given the chance to build their own homes, making an astronomical saving of £420,000.
The Church Grove development in the Ladywell area of south-east London offers 36 capped-price homes to anyone looking to put their DIY skills to the test. This initiative started in 2016.
Rory Wakefield, a musician born and raised in the area, has praised the plan for giving him the opportunity to live where he grew up, otherwise he would have been forced to live elsewhere.
Mr Wakefield told the News Shopper: ‘I wouldn’t have been able to get a house without this scheme. It makes it affordable’.
‘I was born and raised in Lewisham and without this plan I would never have been able to stay here.
‘It is a very positive plan. They should definitely make more, they need them.
He added that he is still in the process of building his house and is currently laying the floors for his residence.
Meanwhile, ambulance worker Martin Oroyan, 61, moved into his part-ownership property last month with his partner and three sons – and he praised the initiative for bringing the local community closer together.
Mr Oroyan said: “We have been involved with this project in Ladywell since it started in 2016 and it has been quite an experience.
‘My partner and I bought a house for the first time and had been trying to get ‘on the ladder’ for a number of years.
‘Our three boys were born while living in Forest Hill and we hoped to avoid moving, changing schools and the general upheaval that brings.
‘Without this project we wouldn’t have been able to afford to live within the M25.’
The new development uses homes that are part of a community land trust, meaning they are owned by a nonprofit organization to keep them affordable for interested buyers.
Units are offered in a range of sizes and ownership types, including options for full ownership, part rent, part purchase, London Living Rent and social rent.
The plan has proven to be so successful that there is now a long waiting list for anyone who wants to participate in the project.
Couple Pete Bell and Emma Onono, who moved into their home with their eight-year-old son in April, say the welcoming community is a far cry from how they felt at their old home in Adelaide Avenue, in nearby Brockley.
Emma, 48, said: ‘We signed up for the scheme a number of years ago. Eventually we got an email saying we were at the top of the list and we started working on it straight away.
‘There is a great sense of community. You can’t walk from one side to the other without saying hello to someone. Where we used to live, no one knew the neighbors.
‘We got one with a kitchen in a concrete shell. We built the floors and painted the walls, but that was it.
‘I love it. I absolutely love it. There is a very nice community.’
Sydney Thornbury, 57, opted for the full purchase option of her home more than three months ago. She was one of the first residents to move in after choosing to downsize.
Mrs Thornbury says she laid her own floors, painted the walls of the property and built her own kitchen.
She added: ‘We all love it, it’s been fantastic. It’s even been better than I thought it would be.
‘This building is a wonderful testament not only to what people have achieved, but also to the community that has emerged since this process.
‘One of the great things about it, I think, is that every apartment is really different. They all have a different style or look.’