The CLT Network in England: Next stop, a CLT movement Overview: Catherine Harrington, National Coordinator, National CLT Network Knowledge Building Across CLTs in Europe and the US, 1st and 2nd July 2013

Today Over 150 CLTs. No. doubled in last two years and now on ave one new CLT forming every week 250 homes built, with another 800 in the pipeline between now and 2016 Things are set to expand… But British CLTs are a rural phenomenon: of 150 CLTs in England and Wales, 135 are rural – 90% of the national movement

Homebaked CLT, Liverpool As the number of groups has expanded, and as their work has become more established, we’ve addressed more of the barriers, we are starting to see a much greater variety in the work that they are doing as well. Still a true picture in many cases that a CLT is a rural concept, few active members of a village community responding to high house prices and a lack of affordable housing for younger generations, perhaps responding to a decline in services, working closely with the Parish Council etc. But also emerging areas of work. One of those areas is in poorer urban areas. Homebaked CLT is in Anfield, Liverpool, an area which has been marked for demolition. Set up in 2010 as part of a Liverpool Biennial project to work with 40 young people to design a home, they are starting by bringing an old bakery back into use along with neighbouring terraced properties. The first phase will create 4 housing units, along with space for the bakery and other community facilities. They have a really impressive programme of community engagement. Very inspiring group of local people, including young people. Young people have been involved in every stage of the design process. Particularly in areas which have been subject to numerous government-led regeneration strategies – in many cases, highly controversial, left unfinished or unsuccessful. Idea that people can take control of the future of the area for themselves, to deliver what it needs and preserve its own character, is proving really interesting. 3 or 4 groups now exploring this just in Liverpool, Middlesbrough CLT is delivering 3 different projects in the town etc.

East London CLT East London CLT – big development in a high value urban area. They are set to become London’s first CLT and potentially England’s first urban CLT – race with Homebaked and Bristol CLTs at the moment. Grew out of a campaign of London Citizens, a community organising organisation, back in 2007. They have over 1000 members and as of July 2012 will be involved in the redevelopment of a former hospital site in Mile End. East London CLT will hold the freehold of the site.  Procuring a developer proved a challenging process, but the Trust gained itself a position of power around the negotiating table, in particular by mobilising public political support for their plans from figures such as the Mayor of London. Their demands for a “CLT guarantee” with the site developer were agreed on 16th July 2012, Mayoral Decision 1028.  East London CLT will take stewardship of a 200 home development, and the freehold of the entire site. The ground rents raised each year will be reinvested in the local area and in local people. The CLT will also own all of the "affordable for sale" homes across the site, currently valued at £3million, which will be offered to local people at approximately a quarter of the open market value. Other homes will be provided for social rent, at well below the new 80% of market rate “affordable rent” currently being proposed elsewhere, by a registered provider.  Their next project will be the Olympic park.    

Lyvennet Community Trust, Cumbria Developed 12 affordable homes, and 8 plots for self-build on a former stoneworks site in rural Cumbria. Collective village action process: community plan showed housing as a top priority, noone was building but the character of the village was going to be lost, so built it themselves. Raised money by abseiling down the church spire! Half-way through the build process, the pub closed. So they bought that too as a community-owned business, coming up to its second birthday this summer. Collective refurb project: 4000 hours of volunteer input, some people never missed a day. Calling on “alternative assets” within the community: Kitty the hairdresser as their most essential asset.

St Minver CLT, Cornwall

Brampton and Beyond CT Approach of using a CLT to unlock potential for another community asset is also becoming a popular motivation. Brampton and Beyond CT have been an established organisation for many years running community projects, transport facilities, café out of this former school in the town. Leasing the property, and were finding it difficult to secure further funding for their activities without a more secure tenure of the site. Approached the local council, and agreed to build 38 supported housing units on the other half of the site, in exchange for the freehold of the whole from the council. For them, a CLT and CLT homes are an important good for the town, but actually inspired as a turn-key for an entirely different project. Preparing the scheme now.

Wilton CLT Wilton CLT want to be the answer to anyone who suggests that the CLT model can’t work at scale. Already seen East London CLT working on a 200 home development, Wilton are planning to top that with a 500 home scheme, on the Erskine Barracks outside of Salisbury. In with a development partner. Over 3 phases, will develop 500 homes (sale, assisted sale and affordable rent) of which 40% will be affordable – 3 Ha of business park, an eco visitors centre and demonstration buildings. Begun from a community eco project in 2012 – Great Green Challenge. Working up the final MoU at the moment – had an email yesterday confirming that bidding on the site has just begun.

Glendale Gateway Trust But how did we get to this point…

<< Rewind << How did we get to this point? 1990s/early 2000s Inspiration from US + pioneering projects 2006-2008 National demonstration project 2008 Statutory definition in Housing and Regeneration Act CLT Fund established 2006- 2013+ ‘CLT umbrellas’ established 2010 National CLT Network established!

Today Today… an infrastructure of support is starting to emerge Also work with partner organisations to bring this about we’re the bridge between the local groups and the professional sectors/national gov etc…]

Fostering strong sector-led networks

Funding for CLTs

Raising awareness of CLTs and CLT Umbrellas

Providing high quality advice and resources for CLTs

Creating the conditions for CLTs to grow and flourish Access to mortgage finance

Creating the conditions for CLTs to grow and flourish Availability of development finance

Creating the conditions for CLTs to grow and flourish Local authority support

CLTs flavour of the month? Localism (neighbourhood planning, community rights) Social value and dispositions Funding – HCA CRtB NPPF – presumption in favour of sustainable development

Impact so far Government announces £14m funding to start CLTs and community development – 28th March 2013 Housing Minister Mark Prisk today announced that the rules governing funding for the Community Right to Build are to be relaxed, to make it available for CLTs and other community-led development organisations. HCA confirms £25m funding available after successful lobbying by the sector – 20th May 2013 The HCA has confirmed that it remains committed to allocating up to £25 million to community-led projects, including CLTs, Cohousing and Cooperative housing projects that deliver by 2015.  

What we’ve learned along the way Complementary roles and joint working – making the most of each of our assets How to work locally (growing importance of local/sub-regional decision-making) Tension between professionalising the sector and staying connected to local groups/the grassroots [Edit slide] Challenges/what we’ve learned along the way…

The future is bright! Just awarded grant funding to 2016 ££! Formalise relationship with umbrellas Poss formalise relationship with partners

Find out more National CLT Network CLT Fund Feasibility Fund www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk or contact Catherine Harrington on catherine.harrington@housing.org.uk or 020 7067 1191 CLT Fund Feasibility Fund Technical Assistance Fund www.cltfund.org.uk Contact Hannah Fleetwood on hannah.fleetwood@housing.org.uk or 020 7067 1039