Communities take control
Hugh Russell reports on community-led housing projects in rural areas across Wales
Community-led housing (CLH) can have a significant impact in addressing the threats to rural communities posed by ever-increasing house prices and the impact of second homes. Cwmpas’ dedicated CLH enabling team, Communities Creating Homes, exists to support communities anywhere in Wales to take control of delivering their own homes and is currently working with a number of groups in rural areas:
Gŵyr Community Land Trust (GCLT) was formed to address the well- evidenced housing affordability crisis in the Gower and Gower fringe areas where its members live and work. It is run entirely by local people who are in housing need and committed to finding a solution to the lack of affordable housing in the area where they live, work, volunteer and where their children go to school.
GCLT intends to build 14 zero carbon homes which will be affordable for local people, who meet Swansea Council’s definition of housing need, in perpetuity.
Local house prices have risen sharply in the last two decades pricing out young people and families. This has had a negative effect on local communities, threatening services and businesses, and forcing local people out. GCLT believes that Gower must be a good place to live, for it to remain a good place to work and visit. They intend to build part of the site out themselves, investing their own labour to bring down costs (a process known as sweat equity).
Nolton and Roch Community Land Trust (NRCLT) was formed primarily to create affordable housing for local people in rural Pembrokeshire. In doing so, the group endeavours to enhance the quality of life and the wellbeing of those who move into the properties created. NRCLT is seeking to develop the new affordable housing in partnership with a local registered social landlord, Ateb Group.
Second homes tax premium is being used to contribute to the supply of affordable community-led housing following a successful pitch made by the CLT for assistance to purchase a parcel of land. With £100,000, the CLT will purchase a site from a local landowner to develop 19 affordable homes in partnership with the housing association.
By owning the freehold of the land, NRCLT will ensure that it is only used for the benefit of the local community and the homes will remain affordable for future generations. It received enabling support from the Communities Creating Homes team at Cwmpas to undertake a local housing needs survey and incorporate as a community benefit society.
NRCLT’s vision for its community is the improved well-being of residents, through having enough affordable, sustainable and attractive housing and better social, recreational and educational amenities.
Aberdyfi Community Housing Trust is looking create sustainable housing and workspaces through buying back existing residential properties within the village for local use. Aberdyfi has one of the highest rates of second homes ownership in Wales and this project is looking to do all they can to make the broken and fragmented community becomes resilient and cohesive once again.
Using grant funding from Perthyn, and with the support of Communities Creating Homes, the trust has developed its business plan and also has a bid in with the Shared Prosperity Fund in order to buy its first property.
The group has had a significant impact in the local community already, taking on a number of local facilities and safeguarding them for continued public benefit, and these experiences, wedded to a clear need for housing, make it really well placed to tackle the issue of local housing supply itself.
Menter Bro Aled Cyf is a firmly established community-led organisation in the village of Llansannan, Conwy. It has identified a piece of land in the community, outside of, but adjacent to the settlement boundary and the intention is to build up to eight new homes on this site which local people will be able to rent at affordable rates or buy via a shared ownership models. It is currently in discussions with Conwy Council about concept designs. The preservation and promotion of the Welsh language is one of the central concerns, alongside providing affordable housing options that remain available to local people in perpetuity (ie are not sold into private ownership).
Ymiddiredolaeth Tir Cymunedol Bro’r Eifl has come together to develop affordable housing for local people using the community land trust model, which ensures that land and assets remain in the ownership of the local community in perpetuity. It is currently in the process of understanding the local housing need in Llanaelhaearn, Trefor and Pistyll to inform future plans, which could possibly include working with a housing association or council partner to deliver the affordable homes.
Alongside these, and other examples of community groups in rural areas, the Communities Creating Homes team is seeking to support housing delivery in urban areas within Wales, as well as to drive policy changes which will make it easier for future groups to follow in the footsteps of these pioneer community groups. For more information visit cwmpas.coop/community-led-housing-toolkit/.
Hugh Russell is project manager of Communities Creating Homes at Cwmpas