This research aims to uncover practical pathways towards scaling community-led development (CLD) practices in urban contexts in England. CLD takes land and property off the market and into democratic control, tackling urban development challenges posed by financial speculation, displacement and public sector cuts. This model provides greater affordability for local people and businesses, and affords more opportunities for cultural and social land-uses. Despite these benefits the prevalence or CLD is disappointingly rare, particularly in urban contexts, with neoliberal planning and development contexts alongside unique delivery models posing considerable barriers to scale. Zurich, Switzerland, where one in five people live in community-owned housing, demonstrates how CLD can be scaled through appropriate regulatory frameworks and financial systems. Such examples, alongside an emerging ecosystem of urban CLD projects in England attempting to achieve scale offers reasons for optimism. This research provides unique and timely comparative analysis of one such project in England and an international best-practice to evaluate ongoing advancements towards scalability and identify practical next steps for continued growth. This is achieved through a comparative multi-level case study approach, with data collected using semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and a detailed literature and policy review. Furthermore, an auto-ethnographic component leverages the researcher’s professional role within the CLD sector to facilitate greater collaboration between research and practice. As well as seeking to address practical challenges related to regulatory and financial conditions to enable scalability, the research also looks to develop a theoretical framework that supports scalability whilst maintaining CLD’s social movement values.