Impact Case Study: Citizen’s House London CLT
In a complementary report to the 2025 State of the Sector Report, the impact of CLT Brussels Transvaal project and London CLT’s Citizens House are further explored, combining quantitative and qualitative evidence.
London Community Land Trust (CLT) was formed in 2007, providing Londoners with affordable homes and community spaces. Citizen’s House is located in Lewisham, an inner-London borough in south-east London. The land for the development of Citizens House was gifted through the Building for Lewisham programme, after the Mayor of London directed Lewisham Council to work with Lewisham Citizens – a grassroots alliance within Citizens UK and London CLT in 2016. From the outset, local people led the process.
The report finds:
Citizens House homes are set by London CLT at approximately 60% of open market prices within the borough of Lewisham.
One year after residents moved in, many reported improvements to their physical and mental health. (see Figure 11)
All 11 Citizen House homes perform strongly on energy efficiency, higher than the London median.
A resident satisfaction survey conducted a year after residents began moving in shows the project is delivering high levels of satisfaction and improvements in wellbeing.
© The Good Economy
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook MP visits Citizens House, July 2025.
©Ruth Skirrow
April 2026
Questions & Answers with London CLT
Where do you hope to see CLTs in… 5 years?
Hoping to see current projects in the pipeline built.
… in 50 years?
CLTs to be a natural part of the housing landscape. Every new development comprising of at least 50 CLT homes.
What is one positive signal of change that supports your readiness to scale?
Local authorities committed and willing to transfer land to CLTs for the benefit of local people.
What are your three primary “levers” for growth?
Land, funding and exposure.
What is your message to a funder about how CLTs make your city a better place to live?
We are building genuinely affordable homes for the community, so people can remain in the area they grew up in, close to their families and support networks. By focusing on those on middle incomes, such as key workers, we aim to ensure the community retains the essential people it depends on.
What is your message to a developer considering partnering with a CLT?
It is mportant to deliver genuinely affordable homes that meet local needs. By combining the expertise of a developer with the CLT commitment to the community, we can create lasting, inclusive places where people can continue to live and thrive.
If you could change one specific law or policy tomorrow to unlock the potential for CLTs, what would it be?
Grant funding for community led housing CLTs to be reinstated and public land for public good released to the community.
Citizens House, London. ©French & Tye
