Land trust housing plan for Portland Community Partnership

And the plan has been given a boost after it was announced the group behind the idea will receive specialist support.

Portland Community Partnership (PCP) is exploring the formation of a land trust to meet local needs. Housing would primarily be for older people, but this is still to be discussed.

Talks about this, and a proposal to change the governance of the PCP to progress the land trust, will be discussed at the partnership’s AGM this Wednesday.

Chairman Andy Matthews said community-led housing was part of the group’s general strategy and follows on from issues identified in the Neighbourhood Plan. The community will be consulted throughout the process.

Mr Matthews said there were funding streams available to support the work of a land trust through the Department of Communities and Local Government.

It has also been announced that the group will receive specialist help from Locality, a national network of organisations which helps residents set up their own locally-led groups.

Through Locality’s Early Stage Support programme, funded by the Nationwide Foundation, expert mentoring is offered and help to get grants to support affordable community-led housing projects.

Such projects make up only one per cent of the housing market but Locality says they are attracting increasing interest as they have been shown to have wide ranging benefits, meeting local housing needs as well as raising funds through rental income that can be used to reinvest in more housing or support the wider regeneration of an area.

Locality Chief Executive Tony Armstrong said: “It’s so exciting to be giving this group the chance to get started with its own community-led development. Communities know what kind of housing is needed in their area and can be best placed to provide quality, affordable homes. All they need is a little help to get started.”

The Portland Community Partnership AGM is this Wednesday, September 28 at Osprey Leisure Centre at 7pm. All welcome.