[L]ocal community groups and organisations gathered together for an event to discuss affordable housing opportunities through the new community-led housing fund.
The event, which took place on Thursday 19 October at Embleton Village Hall, was organised by Allerdale Borough Council, South Lakeland District Council and Copeland Borough Council in partnership with Action with Communities in Cumbria (ACT).
The session was held to enable community groups and individuals who are either interested or already involved in the community-led housing initiative across the three districts to get together and learn about the rewards, challenges and achievements across the county and the grants and funding that are available.
The initiative was introduced as a way for local communities to deliver their own affordable homes, helping groups such as first-time buyers or older people to secure housing in areas with high levels of second homeownership. Grants have been made available through the district councils to help support emerging or existing groups to develop community-led housing schemes.
The event consisted of range of presentations, a workshop session, networking and a site visit to the established community-led housing scheme at Calvert Way in Keswick. Speakers included Andy Dean, CEO of Community Action Northumberland, who shared case studies and experiences from the North East, Bill Bewley, Chair of the Keswick Community Housing Trust, and Donald Thoburn, Chair of the Above Derwent Community Land Trust.
Councillor Carni-McCarron Holmes, Allerdale Borough Council’s Executive Member with responsibility for Housing, said: “We encourage community-led housing schemes across Cumbria as we are aware of the issue of affordable housing options, particularly in areas where house prices are generally very high. This event was a fantastic way to highlight the issue and showcase what has been done to tackle it and what can be done by communities going forward.”
For more information or to apply for a grant, please contact your local council’s community-led housing team:
Allerdale: [email protected]
South Lakeland: [email protected]
Copeland: [email protected]
