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Cumbria Rural Housing Trust Annual Review 2013/13 including an update to October 2013
Cumbria Rural Housing Trust is an independent registered Charity. Its aim is to enable those in housing need in rural Cumbria and further afield to have decent, affordable housing in the villages and rural areas where they live and work. The Trust has a 25 year track record of achievement in delivering its charitable object and mission.
HOW WE ARE FUNDED
The Trust is largely reliant upon funding secured from partners and other charitable trusts to support its work. Some work is paid for by beneficiaries, who recognise the value of the Trust’s expertise and assistance.
The Trust is deeply indebted to its funding partners. Their support enables it to operate independently and without discrimination to benefit all those in housing need in rural Cumbria.
OUR PEOPLE
The Trust membership includes Local Authorities, Housing Associations and other housing providers, developers, tenants and the wider community. All members share a commitment to the provision of affordable housing for those in need in rural Cumbria.
The members annually appoint a board of ‘hands on’ volunteer Trustees who combine their experience to steer the work of the Trust and guide and work with its staff.
If you:-
are in housing need
are a Parish, District or County Councillor
are a landowner, developer or business owner
have any suggestions or contributions to make to the provision of rural housing in Cumbria
CRHT would be very pleased to hear from you.
To arrange an appointment, set up a meeting or just to have a general chat, please ring any of the Team.
Closure of Cumbria Rural Housing Trust
Regretfully, after over 30 years spent working with rural communities in Cumbria, CRHT ceased activities at the end of March 2016.
This website will remain open as a resource within the Community Housing Project Development UK website.
We are proud to have acted as a voice for rural housing in Cumbria since our inception as Cumbria Village Homes in 1983, and we are particularly proud to have supported communities across rural Cumbria with our expertise on Housing need surveys and Community Land Trusts to help meet their housing needs. We have carried out over 200 parish level housing needs surveys, which have fed into the development of housing projects in Eskdale Green, Burton in Kendal, Keswick, Coniston and Glenridding, to give just a few examples.
Our work on Community Land Trusts since 2008 has led to the formation of Community Land Trusts such as the Crosby Ravensworth and Keswick CLTs.
Andy Lloyd will continue to provide CLT project development and management services for community wishing to develop its own affordable homes via a CLT. Please contact him on:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: 0752 5635 692
Arnside Housing Needs Survey
Part I This report represents a fresh, honest and innovative approach to determining the effect that affordable housing has had on rural communities in Cumbria. It includes frank views from people who live there and are affected directly and indirectly. I am pleased to be able to conclude that, on the whole, affordable housing has a positive impact on the sustainability of the rural economy.
The findings and conclusions should offer useful pointers for local and regional strategies (housing and economic), as well as highlighting challenges for parish councils, local authorities, housing associations and the Housing Corporation. The report provides evidence to support further provision, particularly low-cost home ownership, but shows that more should be done to break down negative perceptions of ‘social housing’.
Part II investigates the current planning position, which is often seen as a barrier to the provision of affordable housing in rural communities. It doesn’t have to be (and sometimes isn’t), and the report recommends a range of measures to give planners a more proactive role in supporting affordable housing. Some of these measures could take effect with the recently announced revisions to national planning guidance (PPG3).
Part III will enable parish councils and community groups to undertake a housing appraisal for their locality. The suggested ‘tool-kit’ represents a useful first stage in determining local housing need, linked to sustainability.
In conclusion, the report confirms the invaluable role of affordable housing in contributing to the future of rural communities, and offers some useful aids and ideas for future provision.
Thanks are due to all involved in the research and production of this report, particularly Claire Stevens and Natalie Child from Lancaster University, Jacqueline Blenkinship, Independent Consultant, and Kirstine Riding and Penny Hayashi from Cumbria Rural Housing Trust.
Paul Davies,
Chair Cumbria Rural Housing Trust and Chief Executive Eden Housing Association
Select a news topic from the list below, then select a news article to read.
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Complete Housing needs surveys are available by contacting CRHT. Key findings for the surveys are published here.
Click the column headings below to order the articles by the heading type. Click a second time to reverse the order.