The Charities Commission has granted charity status to a local community led housing organisation, the Wirksworth Transition Community Land Trust (WTCLT). It was started by the Wirksworth Transition Energy Group to provide energy efficient low cost rented housing for residents of Wirksworth and Middleton.
In July 2016 a public meeting was held to gauge community support. The group heard concerns about local young people being out- priced and unable to continue to live in the same town as their families. As a result a steering group was formed to set up the Community Land Trust as a charity.
Dave Brown, chair of the steering group, said: “We are really excited to have achieved charitable status – now the work can begin to identify land sites. Not only will the homes be genuinely affordable to rent but will have very low running costs because we are going to build to Passivhaus Standards which require very little heating. We are already in discussion with other CLTs, architects & specialist contractors. This is also an opportunity to do something which can inspire other communities.”
The next step will be to hold a public meeting in the near future to explain the project and to recruit members (only £1 one-off fee) who will elect a Board of Trustees, enabling the project to remain accountable to the local community.
For more information visit www.WirksworthTCLT.org or find us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest news. Registered Charity Number 1178158
Contact: Dave Brown 01629 826788
(Photo of steering group, from L to R: Dave Brown, Brian Hebron, Noel Mayes, Peter Walton, Mary Ann Hooper, Kevin Mann, Derbyshire Dales District Councillor Mike Ratcliffe, Ivan Dixon.)
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