13 July 2007
Land trusts set up by community groups to build affordable housing and other facilities have received the go-ahead to apply for development grants.
Seizing on the government's desire to see wider community ownership of assets, the Housing Corporation announced this week that its 2008/11 National Affordable Housing Programme is being extended to community land trusts.
Speaking at a National Housing Federation conference in Warwick on July 9, Richard Hill, the corporation's director of investment, said CLTs had the potential to make locally controlled housing 'available in perpetuity' at affordable prices.
About 25 CLTs have so far been set up to manage land provided at below market value by private benefactors or public sector bodies, including local authorities. In Stroud, English Partnerships is working with Gloucestershire Land for People, a CLT, to build 77 homes on a former hospital site.
Martin Large, vice-chair of the Stroud trust and chair of the national CLT project, welcomed the news that trusts can bid for grants alongside housing associations, developers and arm's-length management organisations.
Unlike councils and Almos, CLTs could supplement grants with private borrowing, paid for through rent income and sales of equity shares. 'Finance is something we need to unblock,' said Large. 'The corporation is clearly looking for consistency on the playing field.'
The corporation, meanwhile, has confirmed that three Almos can manage homes built by developers and other organisations through the NAHP. Northwards Housing, Carrick Housing and Derby Homes all passed its housing management accreditation scheme.
Steve Douglas, the corporation's acting chief executive, said it was keen to develop a mixed market for housing management and to widen choice for residents.
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