WDBC – Community Land Trust

Community Land Trust
2025

A Community Land Trust (CLT) is a not for profit, democratically run organisation. A CLT is set up by local people to develop and provide oversight to manage social housing, assets, land and other amenities in local areas. The assets will then be owned in perpetuity by the local community for the use of the local community. CLTs tend to be set up to address local issues for example the need for social housing or allotments, to take on and run local shops, sports fields or other amenities that may otherwise be lost. CLTs across the country have taken on pubs, environmental projects, businesses, farms, food growing and broadband development, so their scope is extensive.
The aim of a CLT would be to enable local communities to thrive and have the opportunity to live in, work and enjoy their local area. CLTs are particularly useful in rural areas where amenities, public transport, active travel, leisure opportunities and social housing are less accessible. A recent local example is the closure of the shop and post office in South Zeal to the detriment of the local community. A CLT can develop innovative approaches to solving local issues and explore alternative solutions.

A report on the state of housing in Devon was issued in October 2024 by Devon Housing Commission. Some of the points made about West Devon were as follows; West Devon has an ageing population, the average age of a resident in West Devon is 50+ years. West Devin has an under-occupation rate of 45%, this means that people live in house that have more bedrooms that required. In West Devon the occupancy types are 40% privately rented, 40% owner occupies and 20% social rented housing.
In West Devon the percentage of poorest quality housing is double that of England as a whole. Developers prefer to build larger family homes for sale, not always what is required to meet local need. The private rented sectors are very important to supply the demand for smaller, more affordable homes. People locally would have needs for more smaller, adaptable homes offering flexible accommodation, multi-generational living, built to environmentally high standard so they are cheaper to maintain and heat.
A Community Land Trust (CLT)could step in to provide homes which meet the needs of local people, and which remain for the use of local people. The homes would potentially be a small development of high-quality houses in a range of sizes within the village environment.
The political background to the need for a CLT is historic and subject to change. There has been a loss of social rented home into private home ownership and these homes have not generally been replaced. This has resulted in a lack of affordable rented properties particularly in rural areas. The political structure in Devon will change in the next few years and the replacing councils will be much larger. This will potentially remove decision making regarding homes further from local areas. Having a CLT will ensure that local people have a means to be involved in decision making around homes and other amenities in their localities. This will ensure the homes remain for the use of local people.
As a CLT we will need to comply with Section 79 of the Housing and Regeneration Act which makes provision for local communities to set up and run Community Land Trusts. The Act sets out statutory rules and conditions to meet. West Devon Borough Council will provide support and guidance from the relevant officer and there is grant funding available. A CLT will work closely with the relevant public bodies, in our area Dartmoor National Park, Devon County Council and WDBC.
A steering group has been formed to provide the start of the CLT process. We will give regular updates to the local community. The name will be The Beacon CLT. Our first objective will be to seek the provision of some social rented homes in the area. Another housing needs survey will be undertaken soon so please complete this so we can have an up-to-date picture of local need for social housing.
If anyone has land available that may be usable for housing please let me know, Cllr Lynn Daniel 01837 840214 or

Cllr Lynn Daniel March 2025