New homes handed over at first-ever CLT development in Portland

Portland Community Land Trust (CLT) and East Boro Housing Trust (East Boro), part of the Aster Group, have handed over the keys to the first phase of new affordable, energy-efficient homes on Portland’s first-ever Community Land Trust (CLT) development.

The three two-bedroom houses are available for affordable rent. The homes are being built using air-tight and thermally efficient construction methods along with low zero carbon (LZC) technologies. They include infrastructure to enable electric vehicle charging and air-source heat pumps. Exclusively for local people with a strong connection to the area, the new properties will not be available as second homes or as holiday lets.

The local housing association, CLT and Dorchester-based Koori Limited, part of the Redtale Group of companies, all joined forces to deliver the nine affordable homes as part of the regeneration of Portland’s former Southwell Primary School site off Sweet Hill Lane.

Koori Limited provided the land and is building the development. Portland CLT will own the freehold and East Boro will manage the homes. This means the CLT will act as the long-term stewards of the homes, ensuring they remain genuinely affordable, not just for now but for every future occupier.

CLTs are a form of community-led housing set up and run by people within their local communities to develop and manage homes as well as other assets. Andy Matthews from the CLT, said: “Portland Community Land Trust (PCLT) was formed by the community to provide an opportunity to engage and deliver aspects of community benefit across a number of areas. Initial work has been around working to secure affordable housing to meet local need.

“These first three units of eventually nine on the May Bower development demonstrate an aspect of how this can be achieved, and we hope as the community becomes more aware of our work then further opportunities will be progressed. Meanwhile we are grateful to our partners Koori and Aster in making this initiative happen.”

Aster Group is one of the leading housing association providers of CLT partnerships and Portland CLT will mark its fourteenth completed CLT development to date. Commenting on the power of CLT-driven affordable housing, Kevin Hodder, Director of Partnership and Engagement at Aster Group who also oversees East Boro’s development programme, said: “The beauty of CLT-led development is that community is at their very heart. They are formed by local residents keen to deliver affordable housing the community both wants and needs.

“These homes at May Bower Gardens will be energy-efficient and affordable to rent, providing our customers with long-term security. And they will only ever be available on this basis, providing affordable homes for future generations.”

The nine CLT homes are part of a collection of 48 homes at May Bower Gardens forming part of Koori’s affordable housing contribution for the site. The traditionally built homes feature stone from a local quarry.

Malcolm Curtis, Director of housebuilder Koori Ltd, said: “This handover is a milestone in the creation of the first community land trust development on Portland.

“As a local firm, we are proud to play our part in the development of good-quality, affordable housing and supporting the demand for homes for local people.Like the other properties on the May Bower Gardens development, they are traditionally built by a local workforce using, where possible, the best local materials and tried and tested energy-efficient solutions. We look forward to seeing the first new residents move in.”

Councillor Gill Taylor, Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Health and Housing said: “This development will be life changing for the families who move into these homes. It demonstrates how with partnership working, we can scale up this approach to increase the supply of homes people can afford across Dorset. The collaboration between all partners has resulted in high-quality homes for local residents ensuring they have a home in the community, for as long as they need it.

The use of local materials and energy-efficient technologies further underscores our commitment to sustainable development. We are grateful for the support of all partners involved in making this vision a reality.

 Dorset Council is committed to supporting Community Land Trusts, to empower local communities and a stronger, more resilient Dorset.”