Broadhempston Community Land Trust (CLT) has been set up by a group of local residents who are keen to enable local people with a housing need to self-build an affordable eco-house. Planning consent as a ‘Rural Exception Site’
We have identified a suitable plot of land on the edge of the village have submitted a planning application for six houses. The planning application will be for consent as a
Rural Exception Site i.e. with planning conditions which ensure the houses are affordable and available for local people in perpetuity. Community Land Trust own the freehold
The CLT is constituted as a Community Interest Company and is made up of local people. It will own the freehold of the land and 25% of the value of the houses in perpetuity to enable them to be always affordable and available to local people in housing need. Any local resident who supports the CLT may join and in future the CLT could go on to develop other community assets. Shared ownership
The residents will own 25% of the equity in their house by virtue of having put in the labour (sweat equity) to build it. They will then have the option to buy another 50% on a ‘rent to buy’ arrangement, gradually buying further equity in the property up to 75%. This is funded by a loan to the CLT from the newly established CLT Rental Fund. No rent will be payable on the 25% owned by the CLT. If residents wish to move on, they will only be able to sell their equity to people meeting the Allocation Policy. Long term community benefits
The self builders are already becoming a mutually supportive network of people committed to remaining in the local community. Between them they have eight young children (so far) who will enjoy growing up together on a child friendly site and contribute to keeping the local school open. The group will have acquired some useful sustainable building skills – which in some cases will be adding to existing building skills which they could use in the future either for community benefit or their own business.

