Author: Tony Cross

Affordable Homes handed over to ACLT

Wednesday 6th April 2022 saw the formal handover of the first affordable home from the developer to ACLT. It has been a long process that started just over two years ago when ACLT sat down with the developers and agreed in principle to purchase 5 homes. But it hasn’t been an individual achievement by ACLT , it has taken the support of many different organisations, all sharing the same objective in providing affordable homes for local people.

So our thanks must also go to….. Angmering Parish Council who were pivotal in bringing the developer and ourselves together; to Arun District Council who worked with us to devise the application process and the allocations policy; to Triodos Bank in agreeing to loan us the funds to purchase;  and to the South Downs National Park Authority for having the confidence to invest in us and without whose financial support this project would not have been viable.

Grant Awarded to ACLT

Arundel and South Downs MP Andrew Griffith has warmly welcomed news of a £113,770 grant being awarded to Angmering’s Community Land Trust.
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DHULC) have approved the award from the Community Housing Fund. The money will help to deliver 12 new homes at Mayflower Way for locally affordable rent for those who have a local connection to the Angmering parish.
Andrew Griffith is especially supportive of the Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in Arundel and South Downs and believes that CLTs should be an integral part of the planning process. Community-led housing involves local people.
Tony Cross is a volunteer who leads the Angmering Community Land Trust, a charitable company. The CLT is also supported by the parish council, South Downs National Park Authority, Arun District Council, the National CLT Network and Action in Rural Sussex.
The Community Housing Fund grant will help the CLT get their next 12-home project ‘over the line’. They expect to sign contracts with the developer before the end of April.
Tony Cross, Chairman of Angmering CLT, said:
“ACLT is exceptionally pleased to be awarded such a sizeable grant and is proud that we are a flag bearer for West Sussex CLT’s in driving community-led homes forward. The money will be used to help fund the Pre-Contract Services Agreement with our contractors to commence construction of 12 affordable homes in Angmering. We are extremely grateful for Andrew’s support of CLT’s in general and ACLT in particular”
Andrew Griffith said:
“I am absolutely delighted to know a substantial award from the Community Housing Fund will be allocated to Angmering. Community Land Trusts are one of the best solutions to providing genuinely affordable homes for truly local people. There are a number of projects in Arundel and South Downs and I look forward to continuing to give them my full support.”
Tom Warder, Community Led Housing Manager at Action in Rural Sussex said; “The Community Housing Fund is a vital source of funding for community led housing groups such as Angmering CLT. Great to see this support being provided to innovative affordable housing projects such as that at Mayflower Way which should enable it to get onto site very soon.”
Photograph – L-R, Tom Warder (AiRS), James Stewart (Arundel), Andrew, Paul Wilkinson (Slindon), Roger Paterson (Pulborough), Mike Link (Aldingborne, Barnham & Eastergate), Tony Cross (Angmering), Mike Hughes (SDNPA), Robin McDonald (Angmering), Darrell Gale (Arundel).

More Houses Purchased

ACLT has now  exchanged contracts on the purchase of a further two  affordable homes on the newly built Swallows Gate development in Dappers Lane, Angmering.

These houses comprise 1 x 2 bed property for shared ownership and a 3 bed property for rental.

These properties have already been allocated to local residents in accordance with our Housing Allocation Policy and will be occupied in due course.

Three new homes purchased

On Wednesday 9th March 2022, following a long period of delay caused by Covid together with significant financial challenges, ACLT has finally exchanged contracts on the purchase of three affordable homes on the newly built Swallows Gate development in Dappers Lane, Angmering.
These well-specified houses comprise 2 x 2 bed properties and are for rental and the 3 bed property is for Shared Ownership. These properties have already been allocated in accordance with our Housing Allocation Policy and will be occupied in due course.

ACLT (Registration number 8781) becomes a Charitable Company

Earlier this year, two Special General Meetings were held by ACLT for members to approve a resolution to convert to a Charitable Company,
This application has now been approved by HM Revenue & Customs and we are now recognised as a charity for tax purposes.
In practical terms, this means that we can avoid Stamp Duty Land Tax and Corporation Tax on our acquisitions and developments. This in turn will help to ensure a greater percentage of our funds are used to keep rents affordable.
We will remain under the Financial Conduct Authority for regulatory purposes.

Special General Meetings

Angmering Community Land Trust is convening two Special General Meetings this month in order to restructure its status as a Community Benefit Society.

If Shareholders approve the resolutions, it will allow ACLT to transition from its current form to a new charitable Community Benefit Society that is exempt from most taxation. These taxes are currently impacting on the viability of our projects at Mayflower Way and Swallows Gate.

The new charitable Community Benefit Society has already been created and if Shareholders approve the resolutions, it will allow all the current assets held by ACLT to be transferred to the new society. Once the transfer is complete, the Financial Conduct Authority has indicated that the new society may also be called Angmering Community Land Trust with the formers registration being cancelled.

All current members of ACLT will automatically become members of the new charitable society should the resolution be passed.