MP’S support for new land scheme in Aldingbourne
MP Andrew Griffith visited the new Wings Wood housing development in Aldingbourne to see some of the new 22 affordable homes that have been built for people who have strong connections to the area such as growing up nearby or having close relatives locally.
Mike Link, Chairman of the Aldingbourne,barnham&eastergate Community Land Trust, provided Andrew Griffith with a tour on Friday morning (8th March).
The MP has been a strong supporter of the Community Land Trust movement which deliver truly affordable homes for local people.
Last week, the Chancellor committed £20 million in funding for community-led housing schemes as part of his Spring Budget.
Andrew Griffith had supported the Community Land Trusts in Arundel and South Downs in asking the Treasury for this extra funding.
At Wings Wood, of the 71 houses built by Thakeham Homes, 22 of them are in the Community Land Trust (CLT) which hold the nomination rights for applicants to live in them.
These rights are held in perpetuity by the community through the CLT.
The remaining homes in the development are all affordable homes through Southern Housing,eitherforsharedownership orrent.thealdingbourne,barnham & Eastergate Community Landtrust(abeclt)wasestablished six years ago as a not-forprofit community-led initiative to help meet its local housing needs.
It is run entirely by volunteers from the local area and has the full support of the parishcouncilsandofarundistrict Councilwhichhandlesalltheapplications.
Mike Link, Chairman of ABE CLT, said: “It was a pleasure to show Andrew what we have achieved so far and talk about our next projects.
"The most satisfying thing is that the people who have now moved in tell me that they are absolutely delighted to be able to use our scheme which gives priority to local people. It keeps peoplenearthefamiliesandchildrencancontinuetoattendlocal schools. As an example of this, two families with children who lived in adjacent flats in Barnhampreviously,deliberatelyapplied for adjacent properties at Wings Wood and are still neighbours today.”