Government’s Community Housing Fund helps meet local housing need

Situated to the north east of Cambridge, Ely and its surrounding villages are areas of high housing demand. This has made it difficult for some local people to find good sized affordable housing.

To address this issue and wider community needs Haddenham Community Land Trust was set up by local volunteers in 2016. Through the CLT, they hoped to develop homes close to the village that would be reserved for local people and available as affordable housing for generations to come.

The trust identified suitable land for development on a site near the centre of the village and with £42,975 of revenue funding from the Government’s Community Housing Fund was able to fund the legal costs associated with the scheme, and help ensure the community-owned homes stay reserved for local people in perpetuity.

With the support of Haddenham Parish Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and in partnership with property developers Palace Green Homes, the trust secured planning permission and is developing seven bungalows and 12 houses, 17 of which will be available for rent and two for shared ownership.

In January, the trust welcomed tenants to its first properties on the site.

Nick Abbey, a trustee of Haddenham Community Land Trust said: “Our aim is to give people who live and work in Haddenham more say in how they want the village to develop in ways that benefit the whole community.

“It’s fantastic to be able to hand over the keys to our first residents. Homes England’s funding has helped us help local people to remain in the place they love.”