Sherborne Castle Estates welcome plans for Community Land Trust

Sherborne Castle Estates have welcomed proposals to set up a Sherborne Community Land Trust to assist in the provision of affordable homes for local people.

Following a community meeting attended by West Dorset MP Chris Loder (Thursday 11th November) to discuss the prospect of a setting up a trust to develop future affordable housing provision in the town, the Estate’s development consultant Nigel Jones said: “We are keen to work with local people to help ensure that any forthcoming development proposals can best meet the needs of the whole community.”

Earlier this year, the Sherborne Castle Estates put forward a masterplan for a development at West Sherborne in response to Dorset Council’s consultation on its new Local Plan which will guide development in the county in the coming years.

The concept of West Sherborne covers three areas to the north-west and western edges of the town where the Estate would provide over a period of time a sensitively planned, high quality, sustainable development of new neighbourhoods inspired by the historic and cultural heritage of the community.

Nigel Jones, continued by saying “When we first shared our outline ideas for West Sherborne, we wanted to start a conversation with local people and understand how they might like to see it develop.

“We were very pleased that the initial concept has been supported in principle by both Sherborne Town Council and the Sherborne and District Society CPRE.

“As part of the Local Plan consultation, both the Town Council and the CPRE raised the possibility of a Community Land Trust, which could, as the Council put it, act as long-term steward of housing, ensuring that some housing remains genuinely affordable, not just for now but for every future occupier.

“A Trust could help ensure that some of the affordable housing element of West Sherborne is available in perpetuity to the town’s young people, families or key workers who otherwise might be forced to move away.

“One of our key aims for West Sherborne is that it should help to maintain the vitality and sustainability of the whole community, and helping local people stay in the area would support that aim.”

Mr Jones explained that Community Land Trusts were not only about affordable housing, they could also manage other facilities such as public open space and a community hall which could be provided as part of West Sherborne.

He added: “Community Land Trusts must be run by local people and it is encouraging that local people organised a meeting in Sherborne to discuss the setting up of such a Trust. I was pleased to be able to attend and learn more about their ideas.

“We would welcome further opportunities to discuss how a Sherborne Community Land Trust could contribute to West Sherborne with its supporters, as well as with the Town Council, the CPRE and Mr Loder.”