Cheshire learns from Shropshire

A group of emerging Community Land Trusts (CLT) from Cheshire recently travelled to Shropshire to visit the Bishop's Castle CLT.

Representatives from four neighbourhoods currently assessing the validity of a local CLT in their own communities heard "direct from the horses mouth" about the process and work involved in setting up a community-led housing scheme.

Tony Clare from the Cheshire Community Land Trust Project said: "The visit provided invaluable advice and information for our emerging CLTs in Cheshire. It was great to hear from those directly involved in developing such pioneering schemes".

Fiona Dudley from Malpas said: "What an inspirational day! We learnt so much in such a short amount of time. I had assumed that CLTs were just about affordable housing, well they are but not just that – the possibilities are mind blowing, community pubs, shops, parks, woodlands and orchards to name just a few.

"We are really excited as there may be a piece of land in Malpas which could be gifted to the community and we feel that by creating a Community Land Trust, we could work together and realise our dreams of a new Health Care Centre for our village. The existing one is bursting at the seams. We appreciate this idea will take a lot of hard work and money to make happen but the 'vehicle' of a Community Land Trust is the ideal starting point."

Carol Weaver, Chair of the Tattenhall Neighbourhood Planning Group commented: "As part of the Neighbourhood Planning process we are looking at a variety of ways of providing housing in Tattenhall in the future and this was a very interesting and informative visit."

Each of the groups will now continue to develop their ideas with ongoing support from the Cheshire Community Action CLT Project.

For more information about CLTs visit:
www.cheshirecommunityaction.org/communitylandtrusts
or contact Tony Clare at:
tony.clare@cheshireaction.org.uk

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