Lyvennet Community Trust - Big Society vanguard

Lyvennet Community Trust and Lyvennet Community Pub

Stoneworks Garth affordable housing scheme - 10 rented and 2 shared ownership affordable homes plus 8 self build plots.

Lyvennet Community Trust grew out of a community plan and subsequent housing needs survey which led to the setting up of an affordable housing group. The group looked into housing association affordable housing and community land trust housing eventually coming down in favour of the greater local emphasis offered through a CLT. As in many communities the parish benefits from a wide range of local skills including a great deal of business experience. The group set up a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. The trust focused on the need to redevelop a large ex-industrial brownfield site in the village centre with the aim of providing local local needs affordable housing. With finance from the CLT Fund the trust successfully negotiated purchase of the site.

The steering group received support from the CLT Officer, Hands on Help for Communities, the Community Land Trust Fund, Eden DC, Eden Housing Association. A technical Assistance grant from the CLT Network enabled a charitable company to established and an excellent business plan was developed. The trust became the first CLT to gain Registered Provider status with the Tenant Services Authority. Through local MP Rory Stewart the project became one of three community groups in the Eden Area Big Society Vanguard, the other two being the Upper Eden, and Heart of Eden Community Plan Groups. This put the community in direct contact with top level DCLG staff with a view to reducing some of the bureacratic barriers to community projects. This helped the trust to meet a tight Homes and Communities Agency deadline to start on site by March 2011 in order to secure £660,000 grant. On July 19th 2011 Andrew Stunnell, Minister for the Department for Communities and Local Government layed the first brick in the scheme with Chairman David Graham. The Minister was very impressed with the scale of the development and enjoyed seeing the pub rennovation in progress. LCT became the first CLT Registered Provider with the HCA. Eden DC provided a £30,000 loan facility and a £1M loan was obtained from Charity Bank. The affordable homes were completed and occupied by June 2012 and the scheme officially opened by Rory Stuart in October.

At every stage the trustees have been very concerned to keep the whole community informed and involved with regular newsletter and web site updates, social events, fundraisers and media coverage.

See www.lyvennetcommunitytrust.org

Butchers Arms community pub:

Having commenced the housing scheme the local pub suddenly closed and a pub rescue scheme was initiated via a seperate Industrial and Provident Society. After a very successful campaign supported by Locality and Community Builders the community share issue raised sufficient funds to buy and renovate the Butchers Arms. On the 19th August the bar was opened by Prime Minister David cameron with the Grand Opening on August 27th by the son of the previous owner who travelled specially from Australia.

See articles at www.lyvennetcommunitypub.com

Also see the Crosby Ravensworth anaerobic digester group www.lyvennetrenewables.co.uk