Project puts community land trusts under the microscope

Planning, 18 July 2008

Over the past couple of years, interest has grown in community land trusts (CLTs). With my George Pepler International Award I am setting out to investigate what role, if any, these trusts can play in delivering rural affordable housing.

There are many questions about CLTs in terms of how they are funded and how they can deliver affordable housing. There are issues about who gets to live in the homes provided and whether they compete with and potentially undermine more traditional methods of affordable housing delivery, such as housing association schemes.

Do housing association schemes run the risk of raising communities' expectations and then failing to deliver? Short and long-term management arrangements are also important issues.

Most planners, however, know little if anything about CLTs. Those that do often find the accompanying technical, legal and financial information complex. This results in a reluctance to embrace the concept.

With my award I will be visiting the West Broadway Community Land Trust in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This forms part of the wider West Broadway Development Corporation. Initially formed in 1997 it has grown to a staff of eight and works with residents, community-based organisations, businesses, government and other partners to co-ordinate and support neighbourhood renewal projects. In particular I will examine how the trust is integrated into this community initiative and how it is funded - at start up, as the houses were built, and for ongoing maintenance and management.

This work will sit alongside UK initiatives including the government's review of the rural economy and affordable rural housing led by MP Matthew Taylor, which is looking at the merits of using CLTs as a model. Salford University has set up an online CLT forum.

The DCLG - through beacon peer support money to South Hams District Council - has funded research on the governance and accountability issues surrounding CLTs. The Carnegie Trust has funded a series of pilot projects and across the UK communities are seeking advice and funding for their own projects.

Rachel Bland is planning and affordable housing officer at South Hams District Council and winner of the 2008 George Pepler International Award for planners under 30. The RTPI will invite applications for the next biennial award in early 2010, with a closing date of 31 March. For more details, please email awards@rtpi.org.uk.