Midhurst Community Land Trust - January 2021 Update
Dear Supporters,
First of all, we hope you are all well keeping safe and taking care in these difficult times.
Spring 2021 will see our first project
We are pleased to announce that, with a great deal of help and assistance from the South Downs National Park Authority and Chichester District Council, Midhurst CLT have exchanged contracts to purchase 2 two bed houses. The community-led project, which has been three years in the making, will launch its first affordable homes due for completion in the spring 2021.
(Image courtesy of Metis Homes)
The houses at Wyndham Court off Lambert’s Lane in Midhurst are currently in the final stages of construction by award-winning Metis Homes who have a successful history of developments in the town.
Adrian Moore Midhurst CLT Chairman said, “This is great news for the area and the first of a number projects we have in the pipeline. The houses will be available for rental as affordable housing and protected for the benefit of our community through the asset-lock protection in our Rules.”
As you know the Midhurst CLT is a not-for-profit organisation established with the aim of making housing in the Midhurst area more affordable to key workers and local people who are important to the fabric of the town and the surrounding area.
Midhurst District Councillor, Gordon McAra said, “This initiative is a game changer for the town, and I hope the first of many low-cost housing projects for our local community.”
Adam O’Brien Metis Homes Managing Director said, ‘We are delighted to be teaming with MidhurstCLT and look forward to working with them in the future.’
In the meantime, we are progressing on a number of other plots in the area including the brownfield site mentioned in our last newsletter. This is now waiting transfer and is with the architect prior to a planning application being made. Please follow the website for more updates.
New Director Appointed
A big welcome to Neil Hart who joins the board with immediate effect. Neil and his wife Ros and their family settled in Bepton some 35 years ago and have lived there ever since. A solicitor specialising in corporate law, Neil was a partner and eventually chairman of the regional firm Thomas Eggar, working first in their Chichester office, and then in their offices in Horsham and Crawley. He retired from practice in 2016.
Neil is a past chairman of the Federation of Sussex Industries, and was a trustee of the Sussex Community Foundation and the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the County in 2012 and is High Sheriff of West Sussex in Nomination for 2021. Neil and Ros are keen sailors and walkers of the South Downs.
Please register To register your support and interest please visit www.midhurstclt.org/contact. If you are interested in applying, please visit www.midhurstclt.org/applying and make contact.
Town Hall Meeting Due to the current COVID restrictions Midhurst CLT sadly are unable to hold public meetings and as soon as allowed this will be rectified. If you would like to attend, please register at www.midhurstclt.org/contact.
The Midhurst Community Land Trust Team
Midhurst Community Land Trust, The Old Library, Knockhundred Row, Midhurst GU29 9DQ
F: https://www.facebook.com/midhurstclt/
07/01/2021