Community land trusts – or CLTs – are democratic, non profit organisations that own and develop land for the benefit of the community.

They typically provide affordable homes, community gardens, civic buildings, pubs, shops, shared workspace, energy schemes and conservation landscapes. They are community organisations run
by ordinary people who want to make a difference to their local community, putting control of
assets into the hands of local people. They can be set up by the community or a landowner,
​developer or council.
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Protecting community assets forever. They ensure that their homes are permanently and genuinely affordable. CLTs act as long-term stewards of land and the assets on it. They ensure that it is put to the benefit of the local community, not just for now but for every future occupier. Started in the USA, CLTs are now a worldwide movement. In both urban and rural areas, CLTs are a key part of the future of land, affordable housing and community facilities.

A Community Land Trust (CLT) is defined in law (under the Housing Regeneration Act 2008,
Part 2, (see www.communitylandtrust.org.uk) and must be;
- owned by the community
- run by the community
- for the benefit of the community
- not for personal profit

CLT's are continuing to be set up across the country to help keep communities such as ours sustainable. The usual first project for a Trust is to develop, or assist others to develop, affordable housing schemes in partnership with a Housing Association or other Recognised Provider. Conventionally, a Trust acquires land, either as a gift from its Local Authority or purchased from funds raised for the purpose. In this way it can influence things that are most important to a town, such as the location, number and design of the affordable houses and ensures that only local people can live in them. The Trust generates some income from ground rents paid by the Housing Association partner to help pay the Trust’s running costs.

​The main features about this way of doing things are:

​Land ownership: 
A CLT can secure the land in perpetuity for
the community. If it owns the freehold
its properties can never be sold without the
​CLT’s consent.

Affordable Homes and Projects for Local People:
Those with a defined need and a defined
local connection such as through living or working in the area or having family there can be given
priority for the housing.
This is enshrined in a legally binding agreement between the relevant District Council, the Housing Association and the CLT. 

Financial viability:
In respect of housing, a CLT will obtain income from ground rents sufficient to cover the CLT’s running costs and provide a small income for
​other projects. The CLT is, therefore, financially sustainable from the beginning.
​

Access to grant funding:
​The creation of a CLT opens doors to grants
from funders who support projects for community benefit.

Potential for other projects:
The principal aims of a CLT are to provide a vehicle for the local community to own, develop and protect other land and property for community benefit, in perpetuity.  Projects in which CLT’s have been involved include building and renovating houses, running local pubs and shops e.g. post offices, creating play areas and nature walks and building workspaces.
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Democratic:
CLT is a democratic organisation - with membership open to ​anyone aged 16 and over,
a minimum of one share with each share
​valued at £1.