Lyvennet Community Trust ensures that local housing remains genuinely affordable. Charity Bank loans have helped the trust to grow the number of properties that are within the means of local people.
Social Problem
In recent years communities have been threatened because, among other things, local families have been unable to compete for increasingly scarce and expensive housing.
Solution
Lyvennet Community Trust was set up as a Community Land Trust (CLT) in 2009 by local people who recognised the need to develop and manage local homes as well as other assets. In less than five years, they had transformed a brownfield site, provided affordable homes and saved their village pub.
Loan
Lyvennet Community Trust received three loans from Charity Bank which helped fund the affordable housing development and enabled it to secure further funding from other sources. Our original £1.45 million loan was used to build 12 affordable homes for sale and for rent and was key to enabling Lyvennet Community Trust to access a further £660,000 from the Homes and Communities agency. The scheme also enabled a further 9 self-build homes.
Impact
This development is the largest of its kind in the area, increasing the number of properties in Crosby Ravensworth village by an impressive 25.6% (from 82 to 103 at the time of completion). All the rental properties were occupied as soon as they became available and there is currently a waiting list, which shows the extent of local need.
“Without the loan the project wouldn’t have got off the ground.”
David Graham, chair, Lyvennet Community Trust
Last reviewed: 21/04/2020