24/06/2026
A little while back we shared the below news that the piece of council owned land off Merrivale Road was being prepared for sale.
Following consultations around the lack of affordable, quality homes that would priorities local community memebrs, we worked really hard to develop a masterplan and buisness model.
This was an incredibly cahllenging task as housebuilding is incredibly expensive, we are commited to affordable homes but grant support from the government meant our offer for the land was very low.
Our proposal was more of a parternship opportunity, one where The Council and our community - through The Community Land Trust, could work together and place people over pounds!
This offer was submitted to the councils external agents, sadly, prior to the recent local elections we were informed other higher bids were on the table and being taken forward.
We have no idea what size these bids were, who is putting the bids in or what they are propossing to do.
What we are pretty sure of is, whatever happens through a potential new owner will not want to offer the respect adn opportunity for local residents to shape whatever comes next on this land.
We are incredibly sad we didnt get a more positive outcome, however we have left the door open should there ever be a change of mind!
We still want to be part of the solution for the local housing need. Our community still needs high quality affordable homes that are planned, built and managed by our community.
We are still working on other opportunities along with a public AGM in a few months time.
We have a meeting this morning with Bradford Council to discuss the future of the land at Merrivale.
Thank you to everyone who has signed up, commented and shared, please do continue to let us know your thoughts and keep signing up as member so we can secure this land for the community.