Small Sites for Small Builders

We are working to unlock the housing potential of small sites in London, boosting the city's housing supply and reviving the crucial role of small and medium-sized developers in delivering new homes.

Explore our support offer

The programme

We are working to unlock the housing potential of small sites in London, boosting the city's housing supply and reviving the crucial role of small and medium-sized developers in delivering new homes.

The programme's main objectives are to:

Bring small, publicly owned sites forward for residential-led development.
invigorating ‘sources of supply’, including small developers; small housing associations; supported and specialist housing providers; and SME contractors.

Why we are focusing on small sites

The UK has seen a 38 per cent decline in homes built by small builders since the 1980s. To increase the speed and diversity of housing delivery, we need to reverse this trend.

Increasing the number of homes built on small sites is crucial for addressing housing shortages, and this approach is particularly beneficial because:

Small sites move at roughly twice the speed through planning to construction when compared with large sites.
Small Sites could provide up to 38 per cent of overall housing capacity by 2029.
Small Sites promote diversity with a greater variety of homes in terms of type, size, and location, meeting a broader range of market demands.

What we have achieved so far

72

sites released to the market since 2018.
876

homes proposed on sites unlocked by the programme.
16

acres of land released for housing.

18

public landowners supported to bring sites to market.
570

bids received from small builders on sites released.
163

new homes completed.

Our support offer for public landowners and small builders

We provide a tailored, comprehensive service to help public landowners prepare their sites for development and to empower small and medium-sized builders to deliver much-needed homes.

Construction worker taking measurements at construction site

London small sites portal and mailing list

Find out more about how you can use the online portal, template legal agreements and mailing list to either dispose of or acquire a small site.

Visit the portal

Best practice in small sites delivery

Explore practical resources designed to support successful small site development. These best practices are tailored to help developers, planners, and local authorities streamline delivery, reduce risks, and maximize value on small site projects.

Explore best practice

25th May 2025 Knowledge sharing and networking event

Join our events to share your own expertise with the community, build valuable relationships, and contribute to a growing network committed to unlocking the potential of small sites.

Join an event

People on a stage on a panel with audience members

Targeted funding

Our funding opportunities focus on early-stage due diligence to overcome site feasibility challenges and enable small site housing development. Previous rounds are now under contract, with a new funding prospectus expected in autumn 2025.

Spotlight on: innovative schemes and projects

There are many distinctive and progressive approaches to small sites housing delivery from the sector. These toolkits highlight a few approaches that support and amplify the work of small builders and developers to deliver more of the housing London needs on small sites.