Helping you to set up a Community Land Trust
Rising house prices have made it difficult for many people to get onto the housing ladder. One solution is to set up a Community Land Trust in your town or village. Many rural communities in Devon and Cornwall are now experiencing the benefits of this new way of creating affordable housing. Our award-winning conveyancing team is experienced in Community Land Trusts and can support you through the whole process.
Our property lawyers are experienced at advising communities and landowners on Community Land Trusts. Partner and Rural Services Team Manager Pam Johns is a Board Member of the National Community Land Trust Network and a founding Trustee of the Holsworthy Community Property Trust.
Community Land Trusts are made up of local people who want to provide affordable housing for those in their community. This affordable housing can be either shared equity or affordable rental housing. Community Land Trusts can also provide workspaces and community spaces such as pubs and village shops.
A Community Land Trust means the property can only go to someone who lives, works, or has strong family ties to the area. There are other criteria, which our specialist lawyers can advise you on.
Likeminded people can set up a Community Land Trust to ensure their residents and key workers can continue to live and work in the local area.
Because a Community Land Trust is made up of local people, who have the final say over the allocation of the properties, it can ensure that the right people are matched with the right property. That means it can help to keep our communities vibrant and sustainable.
A Community Land Trust was set up in Holsworthy in 2005, following consultations with local people after the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001. The Holsworthy Community Property Trust, or Homes for Holsworthy, has so far provided 20 homes for local people, with plans to provide many more.
An exception site is an area of land on the edge of a town or village, which would not normally be considered for development, but where local planners are willing to make an exception to create affordable houses for local people.
If you are interested in donating land as an exception site, our specialist property lawyers can talk you through the process, helping you understand everything you need to know about Community Land Trusts and exception sites.
