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The public meeting at Eastergate Village Hall was held to explain how the Community Land Trust (CLT) will benefit the local community in providing affordable homes for local people i.e. people living or working in the villages, bring residents up to date with progress and explain how people can keep in touch through the new CLT membership scheme.
A warm welcome was extended to Cllr Trevor Bence, Arun District Council Portfolio Holder for Housing, whocame to express the Council’s support for ABE CLT andthe work CLTs are doing to meet local housing needs, which helps Arun manage a huge demand for affordable housing. The support provided by the Sussex Community Housing Hub at Action in rural Sussex is part funded by Arun. He offered Arun DC as a partner to ABE CLT to deliver small schemes and explained that the Council has earmarked funding which is available for this purpose. Cllr John Charles, Arun District Council Portfolio Holder for Planning, and Housing Enabling Manager Arjan De Jong also attended and answered questions.
Chairman Louise Beaton said “It’s almost a year since the idea of launching a CLT for the villages was presented at a public meeting convened by Aldingbourne Parish Council. We are very fortunate to have a team of committed volunteers on our Steering Group and have received excellent support from Graham Maunders atThe Sussex Community Housing Hub at Action in rural Sussex and from Arun District Council.”
Appointment of Board members
The Board members were formally appointed and the Steering Group disbanded on 18th March. Current members are:
Louise BeatonChair (Aldingbourne)
Emma Pinder Vice Chair (Aldingbourne)
Sue LivettTreasurer (Aldingbourne Trust)
Kevin DeanBoard Secretary (Aldingbourne)
Mike Link (Aldingbourne)
Phillip Henke(Aldingbourne)
Michael Warden(Aldingbourne Parish Council)
Our first AGM will be held in six months time.
A representative from Eastergate and/or Barnham is still sought. Contact the CLT via aldingbourneparishcouncil@gmail.com or Chairman Louise Beaton (01243 543475) if you are interested in joining the Board, attending a meeting to meet Board members or would like further information.
Housing Needs Survey
In May a Housing Need Survey will be circulated to householders in Aldingbourne, Barnham and Eastergate. This differs from Arun’s Housing Waiting Listbecause it will enable people who are not on the waiting list (eg because they are not yet in need but expect to be) to specify what type of housing they anticipate needing. The survey is kindly funded by Arun District Council. Please do return it as this information will provide the evidence we need to ensure the affordable homes we have available match your needs.
FAQs
Is CLT housing subject to the Right to Buy?
A: No. The “asset lock” in the legal constitution of a CLT protects the assets for community benefit. Not being a local authority or conventional housing association a CLT is not affected by legislation applicable to public housing stock.
Can a small CLT really make an impact on local housing need?
A: While the CLT will start small we hope to achieve a snowball effect, as those elsewhere in the country have done.
When are you likely to have your first affordable homes for local people ready?
A: If all goes smoothly, the first homes could be available towards the end of 2020.
Where will they be?
A: We have begun to made contact with developers of housing sites coming forward via the Aldingbourne Neighbourhood Plan and Arun Local Plan with a view to having first refusal on the affordable homes they are obliged to provide if they receive planning consent.
Will rents be affordable and will there be Shared Ownership homes?
A: We are talking with potential developers, Arun District Council, Housing Associations and Funders with whom we hope to partner to finance, deliver and manage our first homes. In our discussions have made clear that we are interested in delivering homes for rent which aregenuinely affordable and in offering Shared Ownership homes, ie part owner-occupied and part rented.