Southwark Council Unveils Land for Good Report to Maximize Community BenefitsSouthwark Council Unveils Land for Good Report to Maximize Community Benefits Southwark Council has announced the Land for Good report, which maps out plans to optimize land use in the municipality for the benefit of its communities. The report addresses critical issues such as affordable housing, environmental sustainability, ownership, and partnership. Key Recommendations and Proposals The Land for Good report is based on the findings of the Southwark Land Commission, which involved experts, community representatives, and landowners. The commission proposed seven key recommendations and 25 proposals, including: * Establishing the Southwark Land Partnership to foster collaboration among major property stakeholders. * Developing a framework for the social purpose of land to ensure public landowners prioritize community benefits in real estate transactions. * Piloting a Community Land Trust for the construction of affordable homes and a Community Empowerment Fund for community-led land acquisition and management. * Launching pilot projects in Queens Road and Sandgate Street to engage underrepresented groups in land use decisions. * Creating subsidized workspaces for small businesses to address the shortage of affordable workspaces. Community Engagement and Empowerment Community engagement is central to the Land for Good report. The council plans to pilot a Community Empowerment Fund to empower communities in Southark to acquire and manage land and property. Additionally, the council will establish community assessment panels to ensure that local voices are heard in land use decisions. Addressing Affordable Housing and Sustainability The report recognizes the importance of addressing the lack of affordable housing and promoting environmental sustainability. It proposes measures to increase the supply of affordable homes, including the Community Land Trust, and outlines plans to decarbonize existing properties and promote green building practices. Call to Action Councillor Helen Dennis, responsible for new homes and sustainable development, emphasized the need for action to turn the recommendations into reality. She acknowledged the collective responsibility of land and property owners to deliver social and environmental outcomes for residents using land and property in Southwark. Read the Full Report The full response to the Southwark Land Commission report is available on the council’s website. The report provides in-depth insights into the proposed plans and their potential impact on the community.
Yesterday, Southwark council announced an action plan to explore how land in the municipality can be used for the benefit of the communities.
The Land for Good report covers topics such as: affordable housing and environmental sustainability, as well as cross-cutting issues relating to ownership and partnership.
Chaired by Dr. Miatta Fahnbulleh, Managing Director of the New Economics Foundation and newly appointed Member of Parliament for PeckhamThe report is a response to the findings of the Southwark Land Commission.
The independent members of the commission, convened by the council, consist of experts, community representatives and large landowners.
Their goal was to find ways to “free up more land for the common good.” Over a six-month period, the commission held workshops with more than 2,000 residents from community organizations to debate how best to achieve this goal.
The Land for Good report covers the Commission’s seven key recommendations and 25 proposals.
As part of the report, the council has committed to establishing the Southwark Land Partnership, which brings together the borough’s major property stakeholders to address issues including the decarbonisation of existing properties.
Southwark Council headquarters on Tooley Street (Photo: Google Street View)
The proposals also include the development of a framework for the social purpose of land, to ensure that public landowners consider the benefits to the community, in addition to the financial benefits, when selling or purchasing real estate.
Community is at the heart of the Land for Good report, which promises to pilot a Community Land Trust, run by people in the region who build affordable homes, and a Community Empowerment Fund, which will support communities in Southark to acquire and manage land and property.
The report also includes two new pilot projects aimed at engaging underrepresented groups at sites in Queens Road and Sandgate Street, as well as additional community assessment panels.
A lack of affordable workspaces was a key issue addressed in the report. As a result, the council said it will create subsidised workspaces that smaller businesses can afford in Southwark.
Councillor Helen Dennis, responsible for new homes and sustainable development, said: “For land and property owners like us, now is the time for action.
“We all have a responsibility to turn these recommendations into reality as part of our collective efforts to deliver social and environmental outcomes for residents using land and property in Southwark.
“We knew we needed to take a step forward, drawing on the expertise of our entire community, to maximise the tangible benefits of land and property in Southwark for our residents.
“We are very grateful to the Commission for all their work in exploring how more land can be freed up for the public interest.”
Read the council’s full response to the Southwark Land Commission report on the council’s website.
Pictured above: Dr Miatta Fahnbulleh, Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation and newly appointed MP for Peckham, featured in Southwark City Council’s Land for Good video (Photo: Southwark City Council)
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