Community Land Trusts & Community Led Development

1. Community Land Trusts & Community Led Development Tom Warder

2. Content Rural Housing and CLTs Local & national case studies Added value of CLTs The Sussex CLT Umbrella Project

3. Barcombe resident “This village is dying (lack of people living in the village is killing off our services and community) …I would like my children to stay and bring up their own family in the village but if things stay as they are this dream will never happen. To the Parish Council and others, PLEASE START LISTENING TO US, WE WANT THIS VILLAGE TO GROW FOR US AND FUTURE GENERATIONS!”

4. Mathew Taylor review Living , Working Countryside “If we fail to build the affordable homes to enable the people who work in the countryside to live there we risk turning our villages into gated communities of wealthy commuters and the retired.”

9. What is a Community Land Trust? A non profit community based organisation that develops housing or other assets at permanently affordable levels for long term community benefit Legal definition in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 Origins – Long history of community ownership / management of assets 175 in UK currently, 7 enabling organisations, 560 homes and 2443 homes are in the pipeline.

10. CLT – key defining features Community owned and controlled Open and democratic structure Permanently affordable homes or other assets Not for profit Long term stewardship

11. CLT – two routes to delivery ‘Hands on’ CLT CLT leads, develops & carries ‘risk’ (mitigated via legals and professionals) CLT owns assets & income Lease based CLT CLT leases site to Housing Association. HA develops & carries risk Little work for CLT HA gets income (share with CLT?)

12. Lyvennet Community TrustCrosby Ravensworth 10 rented homes 2 shared ownership 7 self build plots

13. Lyvennet Community Trust Photo Cumberland & Westmorland Herald Pub bought & renovated with community share issue

14. Community Land Trust self build St Minver, Cornwall All shared ownership No Housing Grant £85,000 build cost (simple design) Modest subsidy North Cornwall DC Managed self build - On time & on budget

15. Lilac housing co-op, Leeds ‘Community of interest’ various incomes Pooling resources Council site Sustainable Straw bale construction Communal buildings Affordable Mutual home ownership

16. Keswick CLT (Cumbria NP) 5 homes for rent @ £500 per month 5 shared ownership homes @ 50% of £265K 1 outright sale –with local occupancy restriction Some grant funding (HCA) and Community shares Professional team employed by the CLT; Architect, Quantity Surveyor & Housing Association

17. 2013 £1.4m 11 home scheme opens

18. Keswick CLT

19. 2015 on site with 22 more homes plus town center conversion to 4 flats Lay people now experts

20. Activists + expertise + resources = RESULTS • Small group decided to act • Community mandate • CLT Officer project support • Vicar as champion re site • Town Council & Local Authority backing • CLT Network & National Park set up grant • Homes & Communities Agency advice • Impact Housing Association support • Tendered for strong professional team • Local Building Society support

21. Other models External project management Community make decisions / own assets CLT Officer or HA takes on workload Housing Association lease arrangement Community secures local nominations HA derives rental income Informed choice important – capacity v benefits

22. “Buying from the CLT was the only form of ownership we could afford. The size, quality and affordability has completely changed our lives for the better.” Gary and Lucie Wilson, Keswick

23. Why CLTs? Community confidence & support Priority for local people Improve affordability & space standards Diversity – design & build methods, community space, self build, training, trading Community income generation Local Planning Authority confidence and support Commercially attractive Avoid extension of Right to Buy! (all housing association properties) – Housing and Planning Bill 2016

24. Sussex CLTs Slaugham Parish CLT Angmering CLT Kirdford CLT Hastings CLT Lewes CLT All engaged in acquiring sites for local needs affordable housing & workspace. Another dozen emerging CLT groups, many undertaking neighbourhood planning.

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26. Typical steps Community support Steering group / CLT Umbrella support / start-up funding Local Authority support Housing need / willing landowner / indicative planning Business plan / pre-development funding / option to buy Tender for Housing Association project support Tender architect / QS – surveys, design, planning Secure development finance & housing grant Tender build contract / construct / occupy

27. Funding Start up grants from The CLT Network, District Councils and the HCA Pre-development loans & grants from The CLT Network, HCA, Locality & LAs Capital Grant and finance from The HCA, LA & lenders Launch of new £60m Community Housing Fund http://www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk/news-and-events/news

28. Why promote CLTs? “The UK builds the smallest most expensive new homes in Europe.” Sir Bob Kerslake • Choice & empowerment • Community centred • Local priority • Attention to affordability • Perpetuity • Diversity - community buildings, self build • Income generation – community services = local support

29. CLTs add value by… Being locally-controlled / democratically accountable Being flexible to meet local priorities Creating community support Providing locally affordable homes + Delivering actions from community / neighbourhood plans Closer community & landowner involvement Generating re-investment for the community Enabling the long term stewardship of community assets

30. Resources – Join the CLT Network Catherine Harrington, Gemma Tighe www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk Catherine.harrington@housing.org.uk Tel. 020 7067 1191 Case study visits CLT Handbook Set-up grants Legal toolkit Insurance Andy Lloyd, Cumbria Rural Housing Trust, Redhills House, Redhills, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0DT, Tel. 01768 210265, Mobile: 07525688662 andy@crht.org.uk    CLT resources and news at www.crht.org.uk

31. Sussex CLT Umbrella Support; Robust business planning and feasibility Housing tenure issues Identify project finance. Tendering Access funding, grants & loans Advise on company forms. Link to legal experts and project partners. Guidance throughout Contact: Tom.warder@ruralsussex.org.uk 01273 407 302

32. SDNPA Local Plan… The SDNP are developing policies to require excellent sustainability credentials and stipulates that proposals: “Engage with vernacular building cultures relating to natural, local materials and local craftsmanship” “Be imaginative in responding to local culture, character and distinctiveness whilst enhancing the sustainability of proposals.” “Development will be encouraged to demonstrate innovative approaches and solutions to show the National Park as an exemplar for sustainable development.” How?...