Community Land Trusts in East Cambs

The progress of Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in East Cambridgeshire is moving forward at pace – demonstrating how communities and councils can work together to help local people get an affordable home.

In Swaffham Prior, the local CLT is currently overseeing eight homes being built as the project looks to tackle the rapidly rising house prices in the village as well as meeting the needs of local residents.

A survey had previously highlighted at least 13 families in the parish were in need of affordable rented housing so they could stay in an area where they had strong connections.

On Thursday 26 March, as part of a national campaign to promote sustainable housing called ‘See it and Believe it’, the Stretham and Wilburton CLT are formally launching the development of 35 open-market homes. A share of the profit from this development will subsidise the construction of 15 new affordable homes for local people, a new GP-surgery and several small business units.

There will be 35 visitors from other CLTs around the country visiting Stretham during the event to learn how they achieved their success.

The District Council sees CLTs as an important way to increase the variety of homes available in East Cambridgeshire and is working with other groups to bring further schemes forward.

Cllr Charles Roberts, Deputy Leader at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Community Land Trusts are a great way of developing new homes for local people whilst giving them a strong say in their design and location. We believe they are a vital way of bringing much needed housing to our towns and villages as well as the infrastructure which is often missing in our more rural areas. The beauty of CLTs is they are the product of collaboration and as we are seeing in Stretham and Swaffham Prior – each project will create lasting benefits to communities for years to come.”

For more information on Community Land Trusts please call 01353 665555.