Our Winter update is here: https://mailchi.mp/358abfdc7972/wcltpwinterupdate2019
Our Winter update is here: https://mailchi.mp/358abfdc7972/wcltpwinterupdate2019
The National Housing Taskforce is a cross-sectoral and political coalition convened by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Planning and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Click here). As one of 12 distinct areas of work, the Taskforce has commissioned he National CLT Network to organise an inquiry into how to support and enable ‘new sources of housing supply’, including small builders, self-build, custom build and community-led providers. The inquiry is chaired by Helen Hayes MP, with vice chairs Richard Bacon MP and Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville. Wessex has provided the following evidence to the inquiry and presented further information to one of the hearings in October.
Coverage of Christow CLT’s project with Teign Housing on Dartmoor. The land was donated by Teignbridge DC.
Please have a look at our new website where you can see information about what we do and find out about the projects that we are currently supporting. www.wessexca.co.uk
The Friends Provident Foundation funded Building Resilient Communities project has been continuing to work with CLTs and Community Benefit Societies which have completed one project and are exploring whether a new project is viable. The types of project being supported are supported housing for older people, woodland, renewable energy schemes, the acquisition and renovation of a former school site, fundraising for expansion and also relocation.
Many organisations have also been looking at reviewing and strengthening their governance; we have been offering support to CLTs and community benefit societies to do this.
This is a picture of Charity Farm. It is in the High Street near to Manor House. On maps dated 1796, 1886 and 1904 Charity Farm was called Poor Estate Farm. On a 1985 map the name had changed to Charity Farm. When the owner of Poor Estate Farm died he left the farm and all the proceeds to local charities. There is now a charity called the Miles Hurman Charity. This charity supports local people in the village who are in need.
Ashcott is a village in Sedgmoor District. We are working with the Miles and Hurman Trust, a local charity, to develop affordable homes and other benefits for local people. 85% of voters agreed that the Charity’s land could be used for development – this will mean 9 new affordable homes for local people on land bequeathed to the Trust nearly 300 years ago.
Pill and Marshfield are the first CLTs in North Somerset and South Gloucestershire respectively. Yarcombe, South Petherton and the Seavingtons’ CLT add to those with homes now complete in East Devon and South Somerset. All are now incorporated as Community Benefit Societies and progressing well with the search for a site. Most of the CLTs supported by Wessex opt to become a Community Benefit Society; it’s a legal form which provides for local leadership and ensures that assets will only be ever used for community benefit. It is also flexible enough to enable CLTs to take on other assets – such as shops and pubs – which are important to the community. Congratulations to all five CLTs on their incorporation.
Christow Community Land Trust featured on BBC’s Countryfile in July. At the time of filming, Christow CLT and Teign Housing were nearing completion of 18 affordable homes in the Dartmoor National Park. Viewers were able to follow Mat, Sophie and their family on their move from one bedroom in a family member’s house to an affordable eco-home in the village they are connected to, and see how a Community Land Trust helped that to happen. Watch again for a limited time here. Mat, Sophie and their children have now moved into their new home.
Corry Valley CLT, based in Dalwood, East Devon, worked in partnership with Yarlington Housing Group to build six affordable homes for local people in the village. These homes have now been occupied for a year. Corry Valley CLT was a scheme in the first programme of WCLTP supported projects. The CLT and Housing Association celebrated with the official opening of the scheme at the end of June.
In the last budget the Government announced £60million per year would be allocated to support community led housing projects. We are hoping that this funding will be available to CLTs shortly following an announcement in September. WCLTP along with partners at the National CLT Network and BSHF (Building and Social Housing Foundation) have been providing information to the Government to help shape their plans. We hope that this will be a new, useful, funding stream to support community led housing and enable more communities to deliver on their ambitions – see below where purple is complete; red is ‘in progress’; and brown is where we think new projects might emerge.