District Dispatch - 12 November 2024

This groundbreaking project will deliver 12 new affordable homes for local people in Westbourne. Construction of the new properties, which will consist of six one-bed homes; four two-bed homes; and two three-bed homes, began last month in Mill Road.

The project is led by a group of local residents who formed Westbourne CLT (Community Land Trust) five years ago, and is supported by Chichester District Council, Westbourne Parish Council, South Downs National Park Authority, and Homes England. The project is expected to be completed in October 2025.

Westbourne is the first CLT in the Chichester District to build their own homes, and once completed, their scheme will offer housing for local residents who can't afford to buy or rent on the open market. Providing affordable housing is vital to ensure that young people and families can continue living and working in the place where they grew up, and community-led schemes such as this one are an important tool to help meet this need. This is why we are so pleased to support Westbourne Community Land Trust. As part of this, we provided the land on which the new homes are being built and grant funding, in addition to working with the team to help them meet their goals.

I'm pleased to say that we are very fortunate within the district, because this Trust is not the only one that exists. Midhurst has its own Community Land Trust - visit the Midhurst Community Land Trust website (opens new window) website for more - and they are busy working on a very exciting project that we will be telling you more about in the new year. Stedham, Trotton and Rogate have also created the START Community Trust - for more information, you can visit the START Community Trust website (opens new window). There are now over 550 CLTs in England and Wales - and this sector has grown hugely in the last six years. Community led housing is a growing movement of normal people taking action and managing housing projects that build the decent and affordable homes that the country needs.

Anyone can start, volunteer and deliver a community led housing project. You don't need to work in housing, you don't need a degree in architecture, and you don't need to be a builder. A CLT can also manage other assets important to their local community which could be a local pub or shop that is at risk of closure or providing local workspaces or community facilities. The CLT acts as the long-term steward of these assets and in the case of housing, ensuring it remains affordable in perpetuity. 

CLTs provide affordable homes in local communities where the cost of housing is high and where it is difficult to bring forward new housing due to high land values. They play an important role in contributing to affordable housing delivery.

Any communities that are interested in setting up their own affordable housing project are encouraged to contact our Housing Delivery Team for advice, who are here to help and advise you. There are many different ways for communities to set up their own housing project.  Examples of projects include community-owned rented housing; low-cost housing for sale; housing co-operatives; self-build schemes; co-ownership; and housing for older people.

A CLT must be set up to benefit a defined community and must not be for private profit. This means that they can, and should, make a surplus as a community business, but any surplus must be used for the benefit of that community. Local people living and working in the community must have the opportunity to join the CLT as members and these members control the CLT - usually through a board elected from the membership. For more details, visit our Chichester District Council 'community led housing' page or the Community Land Trusts website (opens new window).

Best Wishes

Cllr Oona Hickson

Cabinet Member for Housing, Revenues and Benefits at Chichester District Council