Community Land Trusts

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Housing for future generations

Are you:

• Priced out of your local housing market?
• A parish councillor or local resident, concerned about the future sustainability of your village?
• A landowner who wishes to help keep your local community alive?

If you are any of these, then you may be interested in developing a Community Land Trust (CLT) in your local community.

What is a Community Land Trust?

"Community Land Trusts come in a range of shapes, sizes and legal models, but at their core they share a common purpose:  to provide community-controlled, affordable housing....they give communities a way to take greater control over their own future."
Hazel Blears MP, Former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

A CLT is a not for profit community-based organisation which provides and manages land, housing or other facilities for the benefit of the community in perpetuity. They generally aim to meet local housing need and provide community benefit. Where CLTs are used to provide owner-occupied housing they retain equity in the property to ensure the property remains affordable to benefit others in the community.

What are the objectives of a CLT?
CLTs have a wide range of possible objectives which may include: providing small pockets of affordable rural housing; creating a permanent intermediate housing market; providing workspace, community facilities or green space. They aim to safeguard the affordability and stewardship of the housing or other assets in perpetuity.

How does a CLT acquire land?
There are many ways a CLT can acquire land, but as a general rule, the land will be obtained at less than open market value unless there is access to grant funding.

• Land/buildings may be gifted or transferred from a local landowner at less than open market value.
• Land may be acquired at agricultural value through the exception planning system.
• A CLT may offer to meet a developer's section 106 obligation to provide affordable homes and so acquire properties which are part of a larger development.
• A CLT may already own land which is capable of receiving planning permission

 

What are the benefits of CLTs?

• CLTs are able to meet local housing need even in rural areas with very high house prices
• They provide affordable housing which remains affordable in perpetuity, therefore benefiting many generations of local people.
• They are locally-controlled and accountable
• They can provide community-based organisations with an asset to give them financial security and enable long-term planning
• And many more..........

 

What are the criticisms of CLTs?

• The model is seen as an ‘innovative' and is therefore treated with caution
• There can be the perception that ‘community-control' means ‘hijacked by vested interests'
• Local resistance to ‘affordable housing' - based on the perception that it will mean the imposition of social housing tenants with no local connection.
• Mortgage lenders and financiers object in principle to a cap on resale price

At Community Lincs we believe that CLTs represent an innovative new way not just to deliver affordable housing but also to capture wider social and economic benefits. Whatever type of land or building, community control can bring people together and give them a real sense of pride. Sometimes it can even help them learn new skills, improve the environment, or reinvigorate the local economy.

If you are interested in finding out more about Community Land Trusts with a view to developing one in your local community, please contact the Rural Housing Enabler on rhe@communitylincs.com or 01529 302466.