Brighton & Hove Community Land Trust (Bhclt)

Brighton & Hove Community Land Trust (BHCLT) is a nonprofit community-led organisation that develops and stewards affordable housing and land developments that meet the needs of local people. Our vision is of a city better designed to meet local housing and community needs by engaging the communities themselves in their development. BHCLT aims to: – develop affordable housing and other community assets – support other community-led groups developing such assets – acquire or lease land protected for community benefit Brighton & Hove has huge housing need. House prices are out of most people’s reach, and so are rents for many. Housing development is largely in the hands of commercial developers, whose interests do not always match those of local people. Housing associations were set up to meet housing need but have become hampered by legislation that makes affordable housing harder to achieve. The City Council’s own housing development is squeezed between competing interests and austerity measures handed down by the Government. BHCLT is a central resource for Brighton and Hove community-led housing, including housing co-operatives, cohousing and self-build projects, developed through local people working together. These projects bring more affordable housing to the city. Our Community-Led Housing Programme is supported by Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC). Our work to increase community-led housing in Brighton and Hove includes: > Financial support for housing groups. > Discovering suitable land and properties and helping groups acquire them for housing projects. > Connecting local people who want to start their own housing projects and providing them with expertise and support. > Raising awareness and building knowledge about housing with local people, the council and others who work in housing.