Resources and opportunities

Camden Small Sites Project developed a replicable framework for identifying, assessing, and prioritising small sites for housing development, with a strong emphasis on community involvement and systematic evaluation. Assessing remaining sites using a risk toolkit, created by Inner Circle Consulting, categorises sites based on planning risks and other factors. Market engagement further informed site prioritisation by identifying key drivers like site capacity and development viability. Key outcomes include a comprehensive master list of small sites for ongoing assessment, a Small Sites Toolkit template to guide future evaluations, and a protocols report detailing the assessment process. The project established a repeatable methodology that integrates governance structures, supports resource efficiency, and informs strategic decisions about site development, disposal, or retention.

Funding for landowners to undertake due diligence

 The Small Sites Small Builders programme knows that small builders offers funding to public landowners to undertake surveys and other due diligence work required to unlock small sites for delivery of affordable housing. For more information

Digital tool for procurement and management of surveys

RenKap is a cloud-based procurement and project management platform designed to streamline the commissioning of surveys for small-site development. It connects local authorities, developers, and stakeholders with vetted surveyors, offering instant quotes and managing tendering, scheduling, and reporting in one place. By simplifying processes for surveys such as topographical, geotechnical, and ecological assessments, Renkap reduces time and resource burdens. The platform supports councils in unlocking small sites through faster and more efficient due diligence.

The SSSB marketing portal acts as the platform for small sites disposal and to engage small developers for delivery phase. Sites may benefit from grant funding to undertake due diligence. However unfunded sites that align with programme objectives are also advertised on the SSSB portal.  

Launched in 2023 the Architecture + Urbanism Framework provides a diverse, pre-approved panel of built environment consultants, making it quicker and easier for organisations like councils and housing associations to commission high quality expertise for certain types of public sector projects in London.

The Framework can be used by the Greater London Authority Group and other public sector commissioning authorities across the UK to appoint high-quality architectural, place making and urban planning design services for a range of built environment projects.

The A+U Framework is organised into 10 different categories of work or ‘Lots’ with each one requiring a particular type of architecture, design and/or urbanism expertise.

Lot 07 - Small Sites Housing is of particular relevance to SSSB objectives. 

The Community-Led Housing Accelerator project is a pilot programme led by Archio Architects in partnership with Be First (London Borough of Barking and Dagenham's regeneration company), and Community-Led Housing London (CLH) London. Community engagement is a key part of capacity building and raises awareness of the land disposals. By developing the capacity of local residents through collaborative workshops, the project leads were able to articulate the benefits of community-led housing to internal and external audiences and provide a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) against which the CLH programme can be measured. Read the reports below to find out more about its outputs: 

• CLH Accelerator GLA Report case study 

• CLH Accelerator GLA Report case study summary 

• CLH Accelerator GLA Report project model guidance 

Building Belonging is a service offer developed by Community Led Housing, London which focuses on promoting community-led housing (CLH) on small sites in London by exploring best practices, challenges, and opportunities through case studies, with a particular emphasis on the London Community Land Trust (CLT). It provides a step-by-step guide, from community organisation and site identification to construction, allocation, and long-term stewardship, while prioritising affordability, community involvement, and alignment with local housing policies.

Places for London, TfL’s property development arm, have prepared a guidance document for small developers / landowners developing next to the railway. The aim is to help parties to identify risks associated with developing near transport infrastructure early on through a user-friendly guide details the key processes, teams and considerations.  

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The Council-Led Housing Network is an initiative launched by Future of London to support the development of council housing and is open to all London boroughs involved in council-led housing development. The network aims to create opportunities for London boroughs to grow their in-house skills and expertise in housing development. This collaborative framework allows boroughs to exchange market intelligence, project delivery experience, and development good practice. Support offered includes opportunities to discuss general development issues with an expert panel of professional consultants, a project twinning programme and a resources library which includes good practice materials. 

Register your interest here to find out more.

The Small Sites Small Builders programme intends to launch a pilot S106 information exchange in 2025 to enable improved information sharing between developers of affordable housing on small sites and housing providers looking to acquire these sites. A case study has also been commissioned to enable small builders to understand how S106 acquisitions can contribute to business growth and used in tandem with direct developments with reference to not-for-profit RPs, for profit RPs and others who undertake such acquisitions.

 The GLA’s Workforce Data Equality Guide provides practical, step-by-step guidance on how to collect, analyse and act on equalities data in your organisation. Additional guidance is available for SMEs. Whilst many employers understand the significant benefits of a diverse workforce, we know it can be challenging to develop the evidence-based interventions needed to make this a reality. We encourage Small Builders to adopt best practice set out in this guide which aligns with Guidance for meeting EDI funding conditions under the Affordable Home Programme 2021-2026.