Solva Community Land Trust
The Solva Community Land Trust (Solva CLT) was established in 2019 with the intention of establishing a long-term community housing project in Solva. The housing will help to provide genuinely affordable housing for current residents and future generations for the communities of Solva and Brawdy. Solva CLT will safeguard these dwellings and maintain them in partnership with a not-for-profit housing association.
Our project partners include Pembrokeshire County Council, PLANED (who administer the LEADER-funded Pembrokeshire Community Land Trust project) and housing association ateb.
Our vision is to build environmentally low-impact housing – ideally net zero carbon – allowing for the most up-to-date technologies to be utilised in both the build and ongoing use of the properties. We are keen to utilise renewable energy resources to develop a truly green solution which would allow the project to offset running costs and provide lower rental costs.
What are Community Land Trusts?
Community Land Trusts are set up and run by ordinary people to develop and manage homes as well as other community assets. CLTs act as long-term stewards, ensuring that housing remains genuinely affordable, not just now but in the future too.
In Solva’s case, around £3m has been allocated by Pembrokeshire County Council to the Trust from the Second Home Premium’ which is levied on Council Tax bills. This means that the community can determine what housing goes there and who will be eligible to occupy the new homes. Consultations have been held and a questionnaire was circulated in May 2020 – see the news item below for the results.
A background to the project
The electoral ward of Solva and Brawdy has been identified as an area requiring additional residential housing due to the high number of second homes and holiday lets within the community leading to a limited amount of affordable rented accommodation and long-term housing opportunities.
Working in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council, Solva Community Council sought to establish its own CLT to deliver affordable community housing. An interim Board was established comprising four founder members. The interim Board has been assisted by other people in the early stages of the project to get the CLT off the ground, including PLANED.
A number of workshops were run in Solva in order to better understand housing needs in the area. The information gathered is being supplemented with a survey to further ascertain the expressed needs of the community. 141 people completed the survey – see the News post below for more details.
A site was identified early on – the football field opposite Bay View Stores – which has long been the focus of a potential development in the village.
In October 2020, Pembrokeshire County Council voted to release the grant to enable the scheme to proceed. Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet on 11 January considered the responses to the public consultation in 2020 and unanimously approved the disposal of the land, allowing the project to proceed.
You can join the SCLT by downloading a form or getting one from Bay View Store – it only costs a pound!
Solva CLT news
Solva Community Land Trust
The Trust continues to make progress with some significant steps taken already this year. In its January meeting, Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet approved the use of the football field for housing. This followed the statutory consultation period when the project...
Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Approves Land Disposal
Pembrokeshire County Council's Cabinet on 11 January considered the responses to the public consultation in 2020 and unanimously approved the disposal of Solva playing field, allowing the project to proceed.
Solva CLT General Meeting minutes published
Solva CLT's first General Meeting was held on 18 November 2020 and the minutes are published on the Solva Community Council website.
Solva CLT General Meeting
Solva CLT's AGM will be held via Zoom at 7pm on 18 November 2020. Everyone is invited to that meeting, but only members will be able to vote so download a membership form or pick one up from Bay View Stores. The AGM will consist of a short presentation on the CLT and...
Funding Approved for Solva CLT!
The joint project by Solva Community Land Trust (SCLT) and housing association ateb to create new homes for the benefit of local people has received funding approval from Pembrokeshire County Council. The scheme will be mainly funded through the County Council’s...
Become a part of Solva CLT
This unique project to build approximately 18 affordable homes in Solva which will be leased to tenants to provide local homes for local people is progressing well. The next step is the consultation with the community over the change of use of the football field to a...
“Solva Community Land Trust was set up to create suitable and affordable housing for the communities of Solva and Brawdy. Housing is a very important part of wellbeing and the sustainability of rural communities. Solva CLT will steer this exciting project and ensure that local people born and brought up here can stay and live in the community, now and in the future”
Sue Denman, Founding Chair of Solva CLT
First General Meeting
The first General Meeting of the CLT was held on 18 November 2020 and the minutes are available to download.
Who we are
Our Board is made up of Josh Philips (chair), Heidi Holland (vice chair), Patrick Nash (treasurer) second from the left, Rachel Lewis (secretary), Colin Reynolds (membership secretary), Ifor Thomas third from the left, Jackie Young, Mark Carter, Bethan Stephens, Jamie King, Rob Jones and Mollie Roach.
Jo Rees-Wigmore (PLANED) who has helped us set up the CLT, is standing next to Sue. The picture was taken at Tŷ Solar.
Contact us
If you would like to contact Solva Community Land Trust, you can do so:
By email on solvaclt@gmail.com
By telephoning the 07900 241774
By filling in the website contact form