Stoneworks Garth, Crosby Ravensworth

Eden District

Housing development and Butchers Arms community pub

www.lyvennetcommunitytrust.org

www.lyvennetcommunitypub.com/aboutlcp.html

Village population: 517

Origin: The Community Plan identified concern about the lack of local affordable housing which led to a housing needs survey which identified 23 households in need. In January 2009, at an open community housing meeting chaired by the Parish Council, CLT enabler Andy Lloyd introduced the concept of Community Land Trusts (CLT). Interested members of the community formed a steering group which included County, District and Parish Councillors and led to the formation of the Lyvennet Community Trust. The steering group took on the challenge of redeveloping a large derelict industrial site in the village centre which eventually became the award winning Stoneworks Garth development. Separately the community organised a community buy out of the Butchers Arms which they then renovated and re-opened as a thriving concern.

Photo - Derek Horn: October 2012 scheme opening, from the left chairman David Graham MBE, trustees Cameron and Kitty Smith, Roger Bird, Jill Winder, Cllr Joan Rayne, centre Allan Foster of the Homes and Communities Agency, trustee Sue Ferguson, Cumbria Rural Housing Trust CLT Officer Andy Lloyd, Lynne McKenzie of Eden Housing Association, Simon Thorrington of Charity Bank, trustees Annie Kindleysides and Doug Henderson, Mike Story of Donelys QS and Rory Stuart MP. 

Company forms: LCT is a company limited by guarantee registered as a charity. Lyvennet Community Pub is an Industrial & Provident Society.

Type of CLT: ‘Hands on’ developing and owning their own schemes.

Housing management: Contracted to Eden Housing Association.

The land: With Eden District planners the community identified a number of sites around the village suitable for affordable housing. The community opted to focus on a large derelict industrial site in the village center. On the strength of the Trust’s business plan the Community Land Trust Fund was able to provide a loan facility which enabled the Trust to agree the purchase of the site from the owners.  

The scheme:

10 rented homes

2 bed 80m2 £108.44wk over 48wks

3 bed 96m2 £122.10wk over 48wks

Unique aspects:

a) 7 self build plots and 2 market homes were sold to cross subsidise 10 affordable homes.

b) The trust voluntarily added local occupancy restrictions covenanted into title of the market homes and self build plots.

c) Big Society Vanguard - The LCT affordable housing scheme along with other community projects; pub cooperative, anaerobic digester, nursery provision etc were seen as inspirational by local MP, Rory Stewart. In July 2010 the Eden Valley was selected as one of four vanguard groups for the initiative and was the only completely community driven pilot.

d) Redevelopment of a large derelict industrial site

e) Separately organising a community buy out of the Butchers Arms and renovating and re-opening the pub as a thriving concern.

Project support: CLT enabler Andy Lloyd and Eden Housing Association

Project management: LCT

Constructor: Atkinsons

Finance: Start up - CLT Network, Local Authority, Parish Council, fund raising. Development – Homes and Communities Agency grant, sales of 7 plots and 2 houses, Charity Bank development loan and residual mortgage.

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