Bexhill Community Land Trust latest news: Winter 2022-23
Our plans for an initial development of affordable homes in the town are progressing well. These involve completion of 6 two bedroom flats at Parker Place just off Turkey Road. The scheme involves conversion of the dilapidated Cemetery Lodge into two flats with a further four new build two bedroom flats. This will make a small but important contribution to meeting the huge demand for affordable homes in Bexhill.
This exciting project will see Bexhill CLT begin to fulfil our ambition to address the dire need for good quality housing that local people can afford.
Our achievements in 2022:
We have
- held regular Board meetings –15 in total – mainly via IT although we have recently been meeting in person
- a project team of three members which, with advice from the Sussex Housing Hub, has been pushing our Parker Place development forward. We continue to meet with planners, architects, heritage specialists, valuers, and developers.
- recruited two new Board members.
- submitted the planning application to authorise the development and are awaiting the decision of Rother District Council’s Planning Committee.
successfully applied for Community Housing Fund aid to fund our work - appointed Westridge as developers of our Project and Hansom, Baron Smith as Employer’s agent.
- held a positive community ‘listening’ event to promote the scheme.
- positively engaged with officers & councillors of Rother District Council.
- received positive support from Rother District Council’s Cabinet for community-led housing in Bexhill
We continue to embrace the values of community, inclusivity and sustainability in all that we do.
If you are interested in our work, and would like to get involved please call 01424 760 031 0r join online at: www.bexhillclt.org.uk/membership/
Legal Constitution (February 2019)
Bexhill Community Land Trust is pleased to announce that we are now legally constituted with the FCA as a Community Benefit Society – registration number 8045.
Cemetery Lodge Development Proposal:
Bexhill Community Land Trust was delighted to avail of funding to enable a feasibility study to take place on the proposal to build affordable homes on this site, which involved the demolition of a derelict council-owned building. Our proposal – would have created four- two bed houses and two one-bed flats and would have gone some way to providing much needed affordable housing in this area (see Current projects).
Whilst not being approved by Rother District Council at this time, the Community Land Trust is encouraged that the Council is progressing a planning application and construction of a new entrance to Bexhill Cemetery along St. Mary’s Road. This will facilitate the adoption of our proposals and we will revisit this development proposal later.