Appendix 1

What is the Community Housing Hub?

The Hub has been established to provide essential support for urban and rural communities across Sussex wishing to pursue successful community led housing projects.

Its aim is to empower local communities to increase the supply of community led housing, primarily affordable homes, to meet local needs. They provide advice, support and guidance – increasing knowledge, developing skills and building capacity to realise development opportunities.

The hub offers:

· Solutions to meet local housing need – maximising community benefit. · Expertise, skills and experience – everything to help delivery. · A long track record of successfully delivering community led projects. · Independent technical advice, support and information. · Extensive networks locally and nationally – informing best practice.

The hub can help by…

· Explaining the different routes to achieving community-led housing. · Supporting – independent advice throughout a project. · Enabling informed choices by providing a full suite of processes, tools/Options. · Training on governance, management, development, community organising. · Acting as an intermediary between professionals, local authorities and community groups. · Facilitating understanding, constructive discussion and decision making. · Providing access to a range of technical support and professionals. · Sharing good practice – what works / how to address things that go wrong.

Summary of services provided by the Sussex Community Housing Hub to date;

 Four Community Led Housing Conferences have been hosted in Battle and Billinghurst in October 2018 and Herstmonceux and Steyning in November / December 2017. The conferences attracted a wide range of local stakeholders and involved speakers and workshops highlighting good practice from across the country.

 The Hub has also undertaken a number of local presentations to local groups and parishes – for example Fairlight, and Beckley and Neighbourhood Planning Groups.

 To date the Hub has helped to establish nine community land trusts with two others at advanced stages – as listed below. Below provides a summary of key activity of the various groups established/working with the Hub across Sussex as of July 2019. Please note this is not intended as an exhaustive list of all activity that the Hub has with various individuals/communities and Parish Councils across the County. Key highlights include:

Icklesham CLT – Planning permission was granted on 13 May 2019 for 15 dwelling affordable housing scheme

Herstmonceux CLT – Community consultation on site plans was successful. CAF Venturesome (loan) and Power To Change (grant) funding has been agreed to cover pre- development costs alongside those provided by Wealden DC (CHF). A revenue and infrastructure bid is also planned for submission to Homes (CHF)

Angmering CLT – Awaiting outcome of planning application to secure funding to help finance this consented CLT scheme

Alfriston CLT – A transport / access study in relation to a rural exception site is underway.

Arundel CLT – The CLT is becoming incorporated. Discussions with local land owner / Savills are progressing well in relation to a 90 home development which will include 20 CLT rented homes through the Section 106 Agreement. Support being provided to the CLT to select an RP partner

Bexhill CLT – CLT looking at an allotment site identified by the local authority and also hoping to progress plans for the Cemetery Lodge site

East Hoathly CLT – CLT is hoping to acquire a local authority land as a rural exception site. Housing Needs Survey is underway

Hailsham – An active group is in the process of forming the CLT. Town council fully supporting. Town Council land has been identified for a possible first development

Chiddingly CLT – CLT still hope to acquire homes through a local farm development. Planning issues have delayed progress. Funding for a Pre Application Consultation is now being sought

Lewes CLT – Still in negotiation with DC about acquiring a garage site identified for disposal and homes on the North Street development through the Section 106 Agreement

Eastbourne CLT - Still in negotiation with BC about acquiring a garage site identified for disposal. Other sites and funding options are being explored.

Horsted Keynes – Active group preparing to become a CLT shortly. Housing Needs Survey underway and site options being explored in conjunction with the Neighbourhood Plan and Parish Council

Horsham – North Horsham Parish Council consulting the community about establishing a Community Land Trust

Lancing – Lancing Parish Council are exploring establishing a local Community Land Trust

Ford – CLT has selected Aster as the partner to provide development / management support. Seeking to ensure homes and community hub are acquired through the Section 106 Agreement.

Aldingbourne, Barnham & Eastergate CLT – The CLT has selected Aster (for large sites) Saxon Weald (for smaller sites) as partners. A Housing Needs Survey is underway. Site options are being explored.

START CLT [Stedham, Trotton and Rogate] – The Hub is supporting the CLT to develop governance, a business plan and policies.

HOWCH [Hastings Older Women’s Cohousing] – The steering group is looking at site, funding and development partner options. To determine preferred site and register the legal entity shortly

Hastings – Contact has been received from a group seeking to establish as a Co-op. Initial meeting is being arranged.

Ringmer Area CLT – Planning permission has been granted for six homes including four affordable for the CLT. RACLT exploring a partnership approach with the Firle Estate in relation to another scheme in Firle village.

Slindon CLT – A Housing Needs Survey is underway and the National Trust are now working on a Heads of Terms for disposal of the land for a CLT scheme in the village.

Kingston – Local people are interested in forming a CLT. The Parish Council is undertaking a Housing Needs Survey in September.

Pulborough CLT – The CLT is now incorporated and has identified a shortlist of three sites.

Further information on the SCHH please visit the following website; https://www.sussexcommunityhousinghub.org/