- Leathermarket CBS in Southwark is a good example of a successful community-led housing partnership, building new homes in the heart of London at council rent levels
- Leathermarket Community Benefit Society was created in 2013 to take forward the development of new homes in and around the Council housing managed by Leathermarket Joint Management Board in Southwark
- It was set up as a non-charitable community benefit society under what is now the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, and is owned and managed by local people with an open membership structure
- Marklake Court is a new community-led development by Leathermarket Community Benefit Society (CBS) in partnership with Southwark Council, providing 27 high quality homes let at council rents
- The development has seen local people empowered at every stage of the design process, and on completion the homes will be managed by tenants themselves as part of one of the most successful tenant-managed organisations in London. Those living locally will get first choice of the properties
- Councillor Mark Williams, Southwark Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said:
"This is a hugely significant development as it epitomises what Southwark Council wants for its council tenants – genuinely affordable, very high quality homes in a spectacular location that benefit the local community and have a wide-reaching positive effect for others in the Borough. Every step of the design of this scheme has seen tenants’ involvement and I am delighted that Leathermarket JMB will be continuing this process with their management."
- John Paul Maytum, resident Chairman of Leathermarket CBS, said:
"Involving residents right from a blank sheet of paper at the very start has enabled us to get the very best outcome for this site. Residents are much happier than with the traditional development approach, because they’ve shaped the design – from the size and layout of the building right down to choosing brick colours and the interiors of flats. This allows us to open up sites that the Council couldn’t do on its own and really tackle the pressing need for new council-rent homes in this area. We’re delighted that Southwark Council has given the vision, commitment and practical support to make this scheme a shining example of what new council house building can achieve when it embraces a spirit of true partnership with residents."
More information about the Leathermarket scheme can be found here.
Published in March 2018
