Hebden Bridge Web

Community Land Trust public meeting and latest news

Tuesday, 6 February 2024

Public Meeting 12 February, Town Hall, 7.30pm

Priced out of renting in the Calder Valley?

Come and join us on 12 February for our first public meeting of 2024. At this session, we'll be discussing affordable rent in the Calder Valley.

Affordable rent is an issue across the country but particularly in the Calder Valley where property and rent costs are relatively high compared with wages. Sadly, we hear from people every week who are at risk of losing their rented home or who can't find affordable rented homes – and this is only getting worse as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

As a charity, we're working hard to create more affordable rented homes through a wide range of methods - but an issue like this needs coordinated action at all levels. At this meeting, we'll hear from a diverse range of speakers who will share their experiences and ideas around affordability. We'll also discuss how we can all influence change in this area and take individual action. 

The public meeting is free to attend, and anyone is welcome. The Town Hall bar will open at 7pm for refreshments and the event will begin at 7.30pm. We hope to see you there!

Further information 

Speakers 

• Dom Furby, former CEO of Smartmove (now part of Happy Days UK), will discuss some of the financial barriers that make it hard to access private rented housing and share real-life examples
• Dr Tom Archer, Sheffield Hallam University, will share research on the affordability of community led housing
• Nicola Kyser-Forrest and Cath Miller, Calderdale Council, will share more about the housing picture across Calderdale and Council's role within it

Why attend the meeting? 

Our public meetings lead to action. As a direct result of 2022 public meetings, we:

• Were able to create an affordable rented home that will be available in the summer this year
• Received a donation of land with housing potential

Through this meeting, we want to bring together organisations and individuals from across Calderdale to look at the roles we all play and find practical solutions to a very real issue that is affecting our community.

Homes and an enterprise centre at Ferney Lee

The Land Trust are asking people to write a letter of support for our planning application at Ferney Lee. The deadline is the 16th of February and you can submit a letter of support for our plans for homes and an enterprise centre at Ferney Lee here.

The team did an incredible job to go from an opportunity to a planning application in 3 months. A great example of a community organisation working with a public organisation (CMBC) and private organisations (architects, project managers, etc.) to create affordable housing and offices that will benefit the community for generations.

A long way to go though, and lots of hurdles to come, but with a common passion and perseverance we can create a valuable asset for our community.

Jerusalem Farm Cottage

We are in discussion with Calderdale Council for an interest free loan that could be the last piece of the financial jigsaw to enable us to bring this empty rural property back into use as an affordable rented home. 

In turn, when it is tenanted this will provide council tax income for Calderdale Council. In these times of local authority funding cuts, every little helps.

Great progress on our first affordable rented Hebden home .We plan to complete the purchase by the 4th March and complete the retrofit and repair works by the end of June.

Another team effort, involving the owner of the property, Hebden Royd Town Council and Homes England, who have all been brilliant.

We are keen to work with local tradespeople and companies, so please get in touch if you can help us move towards that first tenant moving in.

Patient Capital

If you're in a position to be patient about getting a quick return or even no return on your money, and you want to put that money to work in the community then Patient Capital could be for you.

The two projects above are happening because local people have been kind enough to move some of their savings into the land trust to enable us to create affordable rented homes. This involves:

• Low interest loans
• 0% loans
• Purchase of Calder Valley Community Land Trust community shares

Donations

Contact Paul, our Executive Manager, if you would like to explore helping to create affordable homes in this way.

Reducing Fielden Hall's impact on climate change

It was a test of stamina, but we completed a 142-page grant application this week. We worked so hard on this one and if we're successful then we will be able to have a 100% renovated roof, specialist insulation system, Mechanical Ventilated Heat Recovery System and solar PV at Fielden Hall.

The goal is to reduce energy bills and CO2 emissions by 35%. The savings will enable us to put money aside for all future repairs and to keep the hire costs affordable.

These savings will also support the Fielden Centre Association to enable host and expand the many activities that take place at Fielden Hall, such as meditation, choirs and singing groups, Tai Chi, older lesbian mutual support group, dog training, women's talking group, art clubs, craft clubs, photography groups, the University of the 3rd Age and more.

Charity performances there have raised money for local causes, and you can even get married in our beautiful community hall!

See the website if you would like to hire the hall.

Refugee homes in Hebden Bridge

We have done all we can, for now, to bring 2 empty properties above One Stop in Hebden Bridge into use as affordable rented homes. We are waiting for the lease and grant agreement from Calderdale Council to enable us to proceed with the renovation and retrofit.

Once the refugee need dissipates, these homes will become available to meet the local housing need.

Advisory Panel

If you have experience of applying for grants and/or fundraising and would like to give something back to the upper valley community please drop our Chair Simon Brearley a line at or give our manager Paul a call on 07942 361205.

Signal Box

The wait goes on, but we now have a definitive to do list from Network Rail that, once complete, will enable a lease to be signed. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel (groans from the audience). Hebden Bridge Signal Box awaits patiently to be brought to life and the volunteers in the Signal Box Heritage group continue to prepare information and activities that will make this such a great attraction.

We are looking for someone to take on a 6-month paid role to deliver the heritage aspect of the Signal Box. If you have previous experience on similar projects, please get in touch.

See also

Calder Valley Community Land Trust website