Citizens House is the first community land trust in London that has been directly created by the community using London CLT’s unique affordability model.

Citizens House is the first community land trust in London that has been directly created by the community using London CLT’s unique affordability model, in partnership with Lewisham Citizens, Lewisham Council and the Greater London Authority.

Previously an underused garage site, the homes at Citizens House are genuinely affordable because home prices are linked to average incomes in Lewisham. 2-bedrooms are priced at £272,500 and 1-bedrooms are priced at £215,000, approximately 65% of the market price for homes in the same neighbourhood, meeting the needs of local people who otherwise would be priced out of their communities. When residents move out, they must resell their homes at prices continually linked to local incomes, meaning they will be permanently affordable for generations to come.

The architects, Archio, were selected by the residents and members of the community through a public workshop. Following an extensive co-design process, a three-to-four storey building was developed that faces onto a landscaped courtyard with community cohesion embedded into its design, encouraging new and existing residents to interact and integrate over time. For example, the staggered balconies allow residents to talk to each other across the main facade, and the extra wide walkway to the rear allows space for meeting with neighbours and for children to play.

Located on a highly constrained site, the building has a stepped profile to address the change in height between the surrounding developments and has been carefully positioned to fit into the existing layout of the estate, whilst minimising impact on neighbouring residents and the school. A series of insets have been carved into the block to bring light into the centre of the building. The exterior is made up of a pale brick, with a central winding staircase at the rear, and solar panels on the roof.

Janet Emmanuel, chair of the project's community steering group: "Citizens House would not be here without a genuine collaboration between Lewisham Citizens, the council and London CLT."