Overview

2. Overview • The idea is that a rural context might need a different approach to urban CLTs. • Britain is an urban nation – only 19% of people in England live in a rural area • But British CLTs are a rural phenomenon: of 150 CLTs in England and Wales, 135 are rural – 90% of the national movement

3. The context: Introducing rural Britain

4. The context: Introducing rural Britain • Commission for Rural Communities, 2008: • “For fifty years or more, policy has undervalued the countryside and failed to meet the needs of rural communities and of the nation... Rural communities have slowly but relentlessly become less and less sustainable and less and less self-sufficient.”

5. The context: Introducing rural Britain • Lower earnings • Higher house prices • Older people • Declining services

6. The context: Introducing rural Britain • Lower earnings • English median income: £22,000 • Rural median income: £19,300

7. The context: Introducing rural Britain • Higher house prices £241,300 £253,600

8. The context: Introducing rural Britain • Lower earnings • Higher house prices • In 2010, average lower quartile house price in urban areas = 7.2 x average lower quartile income • Average lower quartile house price in rural areas = 8.1 x average lower quartile income • Older people • Declining services

9. The context: Introducing rural Britain • Lower earnings • Higher house prices • House prices rising faster than in urban areas: • E.g., South East England, house prices increase 76% in 10 years 2003: £180,763 2013: £317,325

10. The context: Introducing rural Britain • Lower earnings • Higher house prices • Older people • Migration to rural areas: 54,000 in 2009/10 • Generally older people: 21% are over 65 (19% in urban areas). • 50% are over 45 years old • Migration out of rural areas: Generally younger people. E.g., Number of 30-44 year olds in rural North East communities has dropped 13.6% in the last decade. • Declining services

11. The context: Introducing rural Britain • Lower earnings • Higher house prices • Older people • Declining services • Pubs, schools, shops, community facilities

12. So where does it go wrong for rural communities?

13. Where does it go wrong for rural communities? Planning restrictions NIMBYism Market housing more profitable Not scaleable Monopoly in land supply Developers not interested

14. So what about rural CLTs? CLTs started by local community in response to this threat (or opportunity)

15. Lyvennet Community Trust, Cumbria

16. Wilton CLT, Wiltshire

17. High Bickington CPT, Devon

18. Film: High Bickington Community Property Trust

19. What is the role of the community? • There are two main routes for delivering CLT homes in rural England: • “Go it alone” for the CLT (the traditional route) • Partnership with a housing association (or developer) • In both cases the CLT owns the land and homes developed: this is the community’s primary and most important role.

20. Go your own way… • CLT owns the site and develops itself • Once the homes are complete, the CLT is responsible for management and allocations • E.g., High Bickington CPT • CLT bears all the risk of development, but retains all the reward - including rents from the properties • Requires a big time commitment from the CLT volunteers!

21. A beautiful partnership… • CLT owns the site and grants a long lease to a housing association (or developer) • Housing association develops the homes and manages them • Housing association bears the development risks, but retains the rental income • Break clause in the Agreement between the parties allows the CLT to buy back their interest after a period of time • E.g., Worth Community Property Trust

22. A beautiful partnership… • For a CLT: • Limits the risk that they bear • Access to expertise and financial capacity • Builds reputation with local authorities • Lessens the regulatory burden • For the housing association • Gets houses developed! • Access to land and community support • Access to public finance • Enhances their reputation with communities, and as an innovator

23. Gatekeepers within the community: Parish Council, Village forum • Tradition of volunteering and “all mucking in”: existing Trusts or new groups of people • An individual with a vision, or an opportunity: e.g., landowner • Sparks from local authority, housing association or rural community council? Who takes the initiative?

24. Organising rural communities

25. Organising rural communities Anti-development lobby Limited knowledge transfer Isolation Migration brings skilled volunteers Strong identification with community SMALL POPULATION Poverty Less detachment Easier to reach people Structure Gatekeeper organisations Entrenchment

26. Addressing the challenges • Limited knowledge transfer • Entrenched views of local organisations • Anti-development lobby / hidden poverty

27. Fostering strong sector-led networks

28. Training and resources

29. Funding for CLTs

30. Regional Umbrella CLTs

31. Growing the movement

32. Interested in finding out more? • National CLT Network • Advice, resources, training and advocacy • See it and believe it – grants to visit CLTs • Visit www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk or contact Catherine Harrington • on catherine.harrington@housing.org.uk or 020 7067 1191 • CLT Fund • Feasibility Fund • Technical Assistance Fund • www.cltfund.org.uk Contact Hannah Fleetwood on • hannah.fleetwood@housing.org.uk or 020 7067 1039

33. Keep updated! • National CLT Network website: www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk • CLT Discussion Forum – Over 500 members http://communitylandtrusts.ning.com • Follow the Network on Twitter: @community_landand Facebook • Join the Network • Contact us: catherine.harrington@housing.org.uk or 020 7067 1191

34. Any questions?