Work

Grassroots innovations in community-led housing in England: the role and evolution of intermediaries

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: The paper aims to take forward recent research concerning the development of grassroots innovations and sustainability transitions in housing. We introduce and empirically assess a multi-level, process-oriented framework informed by strategic niche management (SNM) and social capital theory. Drawing on qualitative data, the empirical part explores the emergence of community-led housing (CLH) in England as a grassroots-based housing niche which operates in a context of market dysfunction. The paper offers further conceptual development of the role of intermediaries in grassroots niche building. Our findings suggest an evolution from independent sub-niche umbrellas to broader-based intermediaries to leverage and consolidate different sustainability practices in the niche. The results question an unadapted application of the simplistic growth-oriented SNM approach advocating for strategic coherence. In particular, our analysis shows that the development of broader-based intermediary organisations is driven by short-term government funding and carefully preserves the diversity of approaches and identities within the niche.

Source: International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development

DOI: 10.1080/19463138.2019.1663525

Authors: Richard Lang, Paul Chatterton, David Mullins

Institutions: Johannes Kepler University of Linz, University of Birmingham, University of Leeds

Language: English

Topic: Collaborative and Sustainable Housing Initiatives

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Economic and Social Research Council, FP7 People: Marie-Curie Actions