Solva Community Land Trust’s online survey needs to hear from you! If you would like to express your views, and interest in, this exciting project, please complete the confidential survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SolvaCLT2020/
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Did you know that the electoral ward of Solva and Brawdy has been identified by Pembrokeshire County Council as an area in need of housing? And that a Community Land Trust, called Solva CLT, has been set up by Solva Community Council to take a community housing project forward to meet that need?
The new houses would be for the current residents and future generations of Solva and Brawdy. They would be environmentally friendly, affordable to rent, and looked after by the CLT in partnership with a not-for-profit housing association.
Solva CLT has already run two discussion groups about the project and would now like to hear from more people living in Solva and Brawdy. An online survey has been launched which we would like as many people to complete as possible. If you would like to express your views, and interest in, this exciting project, please complete the confidential survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SolvaCLT2020/
If you would like any further information about Sova CLT or the survey, please contact Sue Denman on kthdenman@aol.com or Ifor Thomas on Ifor.Thomas@gmail.com
Image by mcmurryjulie from Pixabay
Our partners PLANED welcomed Alison Ward and Steve Watson from Wessex CLT, who have helped 50 communities across Devon, Dorset and Somerset, create Community Land Trusts. PLANED is working with representatives from Wessex CLT to develop best practice in community-led affordable housing solutions in Pembrokeshire.
Pembrokeshire Community Land Trust (CLT) is a LEADER funded project administered by PLANED. The Pembrokeshire CLT is working with communities to deliver genuinely and permanently affordable homes, that are owned and run by local people, for local people, that generate incomes for their communities. Wessex were overwhelmed by the vision and were delighted to be introduced to so many inspiring, community-minded people. They visited community representatives in Crymych, Boncath, Roch and Solva.
Pembrokeshire Community Land Trust Officer, Jo Rees-Wigmore commented “We are delighted to have this opportunity to replicate some of the successes here in Pembrokeshire, that Wessex have achieved in the West Country. To help communities create affordable housing solutions for local people who otherwise may be unable to live in the community that they were born or brought up in. In so doing, we are helping create sustainable communities for future generations and we are very much looking forward to supporting those communities who wish to set up a Community Land Trust.”
Arwain Sir Benfro – the Local Action Group (LAG) for Pembrokeshire, administered by PLANED has provided funding of £60,410 to develop the Pembrokeshire Community Land Trust project. This is funded through the LEADER programme, which is part of the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, Funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
On 26 and 27 February Sue Denman and Jessie Buchanan visited a number of community housing projects in Bristol. The visit was organised by the Development Training Agency for CLTs in Wales, and included our neighbouring CLT from the village of Roch.
The Projects were Bristol CLT, Launchpad, Bright Green Futures, Knowle West Media Centre and Ashley Vale Action Group/The Yard/Bridge Farm. The projects were very different but what was striking about them all was the sheer energy, ambition and creativity of the communities involved in what are mostly cooperative self builds. Evaluations showed the impact of the homes on the wellbeing of the owners. Crime in the area was low and people felt safe. They also had many more local friends than was the norm elsewhere. The visit was inspirational and showed the power of partnerships based on trust and a common vision.
It is the intention of Solva CLT to provide environmentally low-impact housing, ideally zero carbon, allowing for the most up-to-date technologies to be used in both the build and the ongoing functions of the properties.
To explore some of the possible technologies, on 3 February members of the Solva CLT Board visited Western Solar’s prototype solar house Tŷ Solar® at Rhosygilwen. The house consumes just 12% of the energy of a traditional house.
On 9 & 11 December, members of the Solva community got the chance to put forward their views for the type of housing that will be available in Solva through the Solva Community Land Trust.
PLANED Pembrokeshire Community Land Trust project staff have been working with Solva Community Council to develop plans for a CLT. Pembrokeshire Community Land Trust (CLT) is a LEADER funded project administered by PLANED and is working with communities to deliver genuinely and permanently affordable homes, that are owned and run by local people, for local people, that generate incomes for their communities.
Ifor Thomas, Solva Community Council said: “Solva welcomes this opportunity to form a Community Land Trust that can deliver homes for members of the communities of Solva and Brawdy. This is a huge opportunity to help shape a sustainable future which all members of our village will be able to participate in. We will be holding open meetings to ensure that everyone is given an opportunity to lend their skills, experience and advice to ensure the success of this project.”
The Community Land Trust (CLT), set up to deliver new affordable housing in Solva, has received around £3m from Pembrokeshire County Council. A consultation is being held between 2-3pm on Monday 9 December and 6.30-7.30pm on Wednesday 11 December in Solva Football Club. If you are interested in one of the properties, or in what form they should take, do go along.
A plan to build 18 new homes in the coastal village using money from Pembrokeshire’s second-home tax was agreed at Pembrokeshire Council’s Cabinet on Monday, 2 December.
“We hope this will be the first of several similar projects. Llangwm is earmarked as the next possible site,” said Councillor Bob Kilmister, depending on the success of the Solva scheme.
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