The Upper Coly Valley CLT’s Vision

Latest News:
Tuesday, Feb 18, 2025
As a nation we are building less than half the homes we need just to keep up with the new households forming each year. Private rents are soaring in many parts of the country and house prices are continuing to rise. At the same time in other parts of the country there are whole neighbourhoods blighted by empty properties, disinvestment and failed regeneration initiatives. This is hurting communities and, in response, a rising number of communities are deciding to set up Community Land Trusts.
The Upper Coly Valley Community Land Trust was set up in May 2017. This followed on from the preparation of a Local Affordable Housing Needs Report In November 2014 and the identification of potential sites to develop for housing in 2015. A steering group to establish a Community Land Trust was formed in 2016. More detail about the timeline of the project can be found by clicking here.
The community saw that that there is a real lack of affordable homes for young people and families in the villages of Farway, Northleigh and Southleigh, meaning that local people are having to move out of the area they call home.
The setting up of the a local Community Land Trust in the Upper Coly Valley has allowed the community to take control of providing affordable housing in the area by being able to: