We would like to invite you to an event showcasing good experiences of working relationships between local authorities and Community Land Trusts (CLTs) across the South of England. We will be hearing from CLT and local authority speakers from Bristol , Cambridge and Cornwall about how they have worked together, some of the challenges and the things they have learned. Between them they have delivered hundreds of affordable homes together and have found innovative ways to source land and funding.

The event will take place on Wednesday 13 November from 11.00am until 2.30pm at Ralli Hall, 81 Denmark Villas, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 3TH. There will be lunch and refreshments provided. The food will be vegetarian but please let us know any additional dietary requirements as soon as possible.

If you are coming to the event, please sign up, or let us know. The venue is wheelchair accessible but please let us know any other access needs.

There will be plenty of time to network and ask questions. We want it to be an inspiring and useful event for everyone and a good opportunity to make links and share learning.

At the event we will hear from:

Cornwall

• Noreen Jeffries, Rural Housing Enabler and Nick Marsden, Affordable Housing Manager - Cornwall Council Housing Service [Via internet link up]
• Alan Fox, Chartered Surveyor and Board Member at Cornwall Community Land Trust

Cornwall CLT Limited was incorporated in March 2007 and has now developed or enabled 252 affordable homes. Cornwall County Council was one of the initial funders.

Cornwall Council runs a Revolving Loan Fund (up to £1.5 million per scheme) to support the development of new affordable housing by Community Land Trusts (CLTs). Loans can support the development of all types of affordable housing including shared ownership, shared equity, affordable rent, intermediate rent and intermediate sale. Cross subsidy schemes incorporating an element of open market housing may also be considered.

Cambridge

• Dave Prinsep, Head of Property Services at Cambridge City Council
• Frances Wright, K1 cohousing member and resident at Marmalade Lane and now Head of Community Partnering at TOWN.

Delivered on land owned by Cambridge City Council, the cohousing project in Marmalade Lane was completed in late 2018. This new cohousing community consists of 42 homes with extensive shared facilities. TOWN. and its partner Trivselhus, worked with members of K1 Cohousing (a community led housing group) to deliver Marmalade Lane following their appointment by the Council as the enabling developer.

Bristol

• Kelly Thomas, Community led housing at Bristol City Council
• Keith Cowling, community architect and founding chair of Bristol Community Land Trust (BCLT)

Bristol CLT’s first community led development of 12 homes on Fishponds Road, completed in 2016, is now fully occupied and has been a resounding success. Built on land acquired from Bristol City Council, homes are a mix of shared ownership and affordable rent. The emphasis was on creating an affordable and highly community-focused development, and each resident had to be a member of the CLT, becoming invested in the scheme and the CLT’s ethos.

The CLT is also working on another development at Shaldon Road, a site first identified by Bristol City Council in 2013. Since then the CLT has commissioned the design of 50 homes which will be built to 'passivhaus' standards.

Brighton & Hove

We will also hear from Councillor David Gibson about what is happening with community led housing in Brighton & Hove and the next steps towards delivering more affordable community led housing in the city.

Community led housing is good for Brighton & Hove because:

• It provides additional affordable and stable housing.
• It creates and demonstrates alternative ways of living which have a positive impact on wellbeing.
• It encourages collaboration and co-operation between local people and involves them in decisions about new housing.
• People have more say in how their homes are developed and managed, giving the opportunity for democratic control and greater local accountability. It can help local people develop new skills as they make their projects a reality.
• It creates an opportunity to make use of empty buildings and vacant land, revitalising communities.