Use the £100m to create thriving communities and affordable housing
In July 2025, seven major UK housebuilders—Barratt Redrow, Bellway, Berkeley, Bloor Homes, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and Vistry—reached a tentative £100 million settlement with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) following concerns over anti‑competitive sharing of pricing and incentives data.
Rather than letting this fund be absorbed into mainstream affordable housing budgets, the cohousing movement is calling for the money to be ring‑fenced for community‑led housing. That includes cohousing schemes rooted in long‑term stewardship, social infrastructure, and affordability.
Why channel the CMA windfall towards cohousing?
– It addresses early‑stage capital gaps that frequently stall community‑led projects. When the last Community Housing Fund opened in 2021/22, it delivered 52 projects and over 1,200 homes—but was oversubscribed by 70% within days.
– Cohousing groups deliver well-designed homes rooted in local need, often on complex or overlooked sites. They offer a range of tenures, from shared ownership to rental and mutual home ownership, with models that prioritise long-term affordability, security, and community stewardship.
– The cohousing movement argues that such a fund would diversify the housing market, complement traditional delivery models and unlock projects that would otherwise never start.
How the cohousing movement can act
– Lobby your MP or housing minister, urging them to push for this settlement to be allocated specifically to cohousing and other community‑led housing schemes.
– Highlight the alignment with governmental aims: building 1.5 million homes in England, increasing housing diversity, and supporting local control and sustainability.
– Use campaign materials, including template letters, case studies and policy briefs, adapted for cohousing groups.
This is a strategic opening: a £100m settlement may be small compared to the £39bn Affordable Homes Programme—but for cohousing, and community led housing, it could be transformative. It can help bridge the gap between concept and build, fund pre‑development tasks, and demonstrate the power of citizen-led delivery.