Enabling Community-Led Affordable Housing

About the Project

This research proposes to investigate how progressive local authority policies and practices enable community-led development, particularly focusing on affordable housing. It seeks to address the challenge of uneven outcomes by detailing how local policy can become a more consistent enabler for affordable community-led housing.

Community ownership and community-led development are recognized as routes to address current social problems, including poverty, and are a cornerstone of community wealth building. However, the success rate of community-led development remains rare and is closely linked to local authorities' approaches to asset management and disposal, resulting in uneven outcomes across the country.

Building upon previous and ongoing research work developed in collaboration with sector specific local and national organisations this research will conduct in-depth analysis of instances of best practice where synergistic policies have supported community-led affordable housing.

University of Reading:

The University of Reading, located west of London, England, is ranked at 172 globally, according to the QS World University Rankings 2025. 98% of research at the University is of international standing (REF 2021, combining the University’s world leading, internationally excellent and internationally recognised submissions). The University’s main Whiteknights Campus is set in 130 hectares of beautiful, award-winning parkland, less than a 30-minute train ride to London Paddington and is approximately 30 miles from London Heathrow airport.

During your PhD at the University of Reading, you will expand your research knowledge and skills, receiving supervision and training in a number of different forms. We also provide dedicated training in important transferable skills that will support your career aspirations. If you need to develop your academic English skills before you start your studies, then the University has an excellent Global Academy which can help with this.

Eligibility:

• Applicants should have a good bachelor’s degree (minimum of a UK Upper Second (2:1) or equivalent)/master’s degree in Architecture, Planning or a strongly-related discipline.
• International applicants will also need to meet the University’s English Language requirements. We offer pre-sessional English courses that can help with meeting these requirements.

The University of Reading is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and non-discriminatory treatment for all members of its community.

How to apply:

Submit an application for a PhD in Architecture via our online application system

Further information:

Architecture PhD webpage

Enquiries:

Prof Cristina Cerulli email: c.cerulli@reading.ac.uk

Funding Notes

We welcome applications from self-funded students worldwide for this project.

If you are applying to an international funding scheme, we encourage you to get in contact as we may be able to support you in your application.