Community Land Trust in Stretham and Wilburton gets thumbs up

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With Community Land Trusts growing in popularity as a way of helping local communities build new homes - a planning application in East Cambridgeshire has just been approved.

Members at Planning Committee at the District Council approved the planning application in principle from the Stretham & Wilburton Community Land Trust.

This will bring a number of 35 new and 15 affordable homes to the area in addition to a new doctor's surgery and extra business premises. The scheme is an example of how communities and local councils can work together to help local people.

The District Council sees this as one of the ways to increase the variety of homes available in East Cambridgeshire and is working with other areas to bring further schemes forward.

Cllr Charles Roberts, Deputy Leader at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: "Community Land Trusts are a fantastic way of developing new homes for local people whilst also giving them a greater say on how developments can benefit the whole area. The Stretham and Wilburton Community Land Trust is an excellent example of how this process can work as they involved over 250 people in the process to develop their plans. With planning permission now granted, this scheme can now move forward to help local people get on the housing ladder."

Debbie Wildridge, CLT Manager from CLT East said: "We are delighted to be working with the Council and Stretham & Wilburton Community Land Trust to bring this project to life and continue to offer our support to them and other emerging CLTs. "

The District Council has identified Community Land Trusts as the preferred way to meet local needs for affordable and market housing.

For more information on Community Land Trusts please call 01353 665555 or visit www.eastcambs.gov.uk.