A Community Land Trust (“CLT”) is a form of community led housing. They are set up and run by the community as long-term stewards of housing, ensuring it remains genuinely affordable, not just now but for every future occupier.
It is a growing movement and is supported by the Government who have created The National Community Land Trust Network who provide a wealth of information. A link to their site is provided below. A CLT is a not for profit organisation reinvesting its surplus in the CLT. Local people living and working in the community can join the CLT as members and control it; usually by a Board elected from the membership. |
Why Tenterden needs a Community Land Trust
The Problem....... |
Where we are now....... |
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New housing is coming to Tenterden. And whether we like it or not further phases of housing development are in the pipeline. There is widespread local concern that these new houses will not be well matched to the needs of the new generation of young couples who would like to settle, or to remain, in our attractive town.
Although all major new developments are required to provide “affordable housing” this may not in practice relate well to local incomes. Neither can such housing be guaranteed to remain available for local people over the lifetime of the property. 
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Chairman Mark Ellender says:
“The character of Tenterden is changing, not only as new houses are built, but as the age profile changes. There are many fewer young families. And both the infants and primary school rolls have dropped significantly over the past two decades. We want to ensure that our children are able to afford to live in their own community, and to raise their children here as we did.” 
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Who we are..... |
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We are a group of local residents who want to tackle this issue by drawing on our professional backgrounds in the legal, housing, and planning professions by way of a Community Benefit Society with Charitable status and who now form the Board tasked to carry through this initiative to completion.
We have the skills and knowledge to initiate this project and our aim is to involve and enthuse the community and work with others to create something which will benefit Tenterden for generations to come. Some of us are retired and still some working, but we all feel that what we have achieved so far in our lives and careers has served as good preparation for this project. This is an opportunity to use our interests and expertise to make a difference to our community. See below for who we are with a brief CV: |
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Mark Ellender (Chair)
I qualified as a solicitor in 1979 and have spent most of my career in Local Government. I was Head of Legal and Democratic Services at Canterbury City Council for nearly thirteen years before I retired. I have experience of contributing to major projects both professionally and as part of the City Council’s management team. Earlier in my career I advised specifically on housing and planning issues. Richard Powell
A Chartered Town Planner with experience spanning five different Councils, culminating at Director level. Amongst other services I have been responsible for both planning and housing. Prior to retirement in 2012 I worked for several years as a Consultant to the Local Government Association’s Healthier Communities programme advising local authorities across the country. Martin Vink
A qualified Town Planner since 1979 with a career in Local Government development planning. I have lived in Tenterden for nearly 30 years and I am active in several community projects in the town. I have experience of facilitating and delivering housing projects as Planning Development Manager and as a member of the local Borough Council rural housing group delivering local needs housing sites across the borough in partnership with Housing Associations and rural communities. "We want to ensure that our children are able to afford to live in their own community, and to raise their children here as we did.” |
John Cowell
I've worked for forty years in the property and construction industry, on the Board of a major Kent based main contractor, as a consultant to contractors and all professional service providers in the development process. I have lived in Appledore for over thirty years and was a Primary School Governor and member of the PTA. My core skills are in marketing, community relations, PR and Bid submissions within the local Kent and London markets and I am a keen advocate of localism, collaborative working and sustainable development. Justin Nelson
I have lived in Tenterden since 1984 and practiced law locally throughout this time, having qualified as a solicitor in 1979. Married with two (now adult) children, I have been a member of the town council since May 2011 and am active in local groups and campaigns such as the campaign to improve cycling facilities in Tenterden and as a trustee of the Leisure Centre Trust and as an organiser of the annual 'Spirit of Tenterden' Community Festival. Andrew Weaver Before retiring in 2015, I was a career local government officer specialising in housing and was a senior manager for many years, responsible for housing needs (homelessness, housing waiting list, and social housing allocations), housing strategy and affordable housing development. I was responsible for several major projects and was a member of a local authority Corporate Management Team. I also spent several years as a senior housing specialist in the Audit Commission. |
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