Portland Community Land Trust

All about Community Land Trusts (CLTs)

What are Community Land Trusts?

A CLT is a non political not for private profit organisation set up to benefit a specific community.

They usually start by focusing on providing affordable housing.

But they help prevent the decline of communities by (amongst other things):

• Owning land and other assets which are important to the community.
• Ensuring Assets are held so that they are available to benefit future generations.

Membership being open to anyone in the community supporting its aims.

How do CLT’s operate ?

There are various models but we are currently looking to deliver homes by working in partnership with a Housing Association (HA)

• The community will lead the project by finding the site, agreeing numbers of homes, inputting into design and occupancy criteria.
• CLT normally owns the freehold.
• HA has a long term lease from the CLT.
• HA funds, develops and operates the homes.
• Homes are available for rent at affordable levels to people with local connection.

How do you find sites ?

By working with the community, partners, developers, public bodies, landowners and anyone willing to make land available.

Before any site is progressed it must have the communities support for the development proposed.