South Lakeland District

www.hclt.org.uk/index.html

A self funded market cross subsidy scheme protected from Right to Buy policies.

March 2016 design and planning commencing. Intention to submit application in May and start on site late summer.

Village population: 308

Origin: In 2008 due to concerns about the absence of local affordable housing the Parish Council commissioned a housing need survey by Cumbria Rural Housing Trust (CRHT). The report identified 17 households in need of affordable homes in the parish. Approximately 80% of survey respondents supported provision of local affordable homes, with the biggest perceived need being homes for young people.

In June 2009 the CRHT CLT Officer Andy Lloyd was invited to speak to the Parish Council on the benefits of delivering affordable homes via a CLT. On the 11th February a steering group was established by inviting interested members of the community to establish a CLT for Helsington Parish. Alongside the issue of Affordable Homes the steering group were concerned to address the long term viability and sustainability of the parish for the future.  They were worried by the loss of community held assets in the parish over the previous decades and concluded that a Community Land Trust would protect community assets in perpetuity.

Negotiations with the Forestry Commission on the value of their lease took many years to progress which is a testament to the determination of the Trustees.

Company form: Registered Society (Industrial and Provident Society / IPS)

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

The land: The site is being provided at low cost by the freeholder Levens Hall estates. As the site is leased to the Forestry Commission, it has agreed to surrender its interest for an agreed amount.

The scheme:

• 2 four bed market sale homes
• 1 three bed market sale home
• 1 three bed affordable rented home
• 2 two bed affordable rented homes
• 2 three bed shared ownership homes with no rent charged on ‘unsold equity’

Unique aspects: The proceeds from market sales will be used to fund the affordable homes to replace housing grant, thus avoiding any exposure to Right to Buy, imposed rent reductions or other policies that would undermine long term sustainability.

Project support: CLT enabler Andy Lloyd

Project management: CLT enabler Andy Lloyd

Legals: Anthony Collins

Architect: Damson Designs

Finance: Start up grants from the Tudor Trust (now via the National CLT Network), South Lakeland District Council and the Local Area Partnership. Predevelopment – grant from South Lakeland District Council, loan from the CLT Fund. Development finance Triodos Bank.