ABSTRACT
This case study is set in London, UK and explores a local community organising to oppose a development of luxury housing in the area. The study discusses many of the traditional organisational issues in British community development practice:
The challenge of moving from a small group of concerned citizens to a larger and more powerful organisation
Acquiring external funding and other resources
The possible limitation on action through taking external funding
Moving from traditional oppositional activity, to proactive community building. In this case via the idea of a local development trust
Managing different factions within the group to achieve consensus and agreed objectives
Building wider local participation and meaningful community empowerment
The nature of the relationship with the local state (empowerment or tokenism)
