An exploration of the barriers and enabling factors to successful delivery of cohousing schemes in England.

The lack of reliable pathways to access public land remains a barrier to the growth of the community-led housing (CLH) sector in England. Through the multi-level perspective (MLP), this dissertation explores the potential of policy innovations supporting land release for CLH development to transition regimes of public land disposal towards social sustainability. Qualitative data was collected to develop an empirical case study of the first policy in England to provide a framework for the systematic disposal of land for CLH projects. The findings suggest that bottom-linked governance between local authorities and CLH intermediaries is crucial to the development and implementation of land disposal policies. In this modality of governance, local authorities may set conditions for the release of public land that include the provision of affordable housing and the fulfilment of social value criteria. In this case study, these conditions have produced intra-niche debates regarding alternative housing tenures and the application of social value frameworks to CLH projects. The paper concludes with recommendations for the design of local CLH land disposal policies and legislative changes to the national regime of public land disposal.