Adur group seeking to build truly affordable homes – but how can you help?

I am very excited to share that a group of residents has successfully set up the Adur Collective Community Land Trust (ACCLT) and has been given a grant by Community Led Homes to create a website and is now looking for members.

Community land trusts in effect act as not-for-profit developers in their community, building homes which the trust owns for community use forever. Any assets the trust creates are legally locked into the trust and can never be sold for private gain. Because the trust does not need to make a profit, homes can be rented or leased at a much lower cost. It is important to understand that the Adur Collective Community Land Trust is not a charity but a community benefit society. This means that it is a membership organisation. It will be the members who collectively own and lead any community housing projects.

Membership is open to anyone age 18+ living or working in Adur and you can join by purchasing at least one membership share which costs £1 for life or £10 for life for businesses. There is no limit on the number of shares that can be bought.

Indeed, buying multiple shares is a great way to support the development of community owned affordable housing. Your membership share (regardless of how many you buy) entitles you to (if you want): input into the direction of the trust; stand for election to the board; one vote at the AGM and the chance to join a task group or housing need panel.

The first AGM will be on Tuesday, September 22. Our journey only started in August last year and we have a long way to go before we can start developing homes. But if you would like to be part of a community response to the housing crisis then please take the first step by becoming a member. You can visit www.acclt.org.uk. (currently we can only accept payment via PayPal) or email [email protected] with your contact number details.