Friday 1 November 2024
Ten years of the Calder Valley Community Land Trust
Celebration: 7pm, 14 November
Fielden Hall, Todmorden
A local community benefit society is marking a major milestone with a celebration event this November. 2024 marks ten years since the Calder Valley Community Land Trust first began its work to create good quality, affordable homes and community spaces in the Calder Valley. To commemorate this anniversary, the Trust will host an evening of community and celebration on 14 November at 7pm at Fielden Hall in Todmorden.
The event will feature a keynote address from respected writer and activist, Isaac Rose, who released his "gripping, un-put-down-able" book, 'The Rentier City: Manchester and the Making of the Neoliberal Metropolis' earlier this year.
The event will explore what can be learnt from Manchester and what solutions can be applied in the Calder Valley. It will also provide an opportunity to look at the Trust's successes over the last 10 years
and look forward to some exciting projects that are in the pipeline.
Oliver Chan, Trustee of Calder Valley Community Land Trust, said, "We're delighted to be marking this significant anniversary for the Trust with a celebration event at the historic Fielden Hall. This is a fitting venue for our event, as the Trust took ownership of the Hall in 2016 and turned it into an asset for the community. It's a fantastic example of the work we've done over the last 10 years to create vibrant places, spaces and homes in the Calder Valley, and we look forward to showcasing the building at the event.
"We're also honoured to have the fantastic Isaac Rose join us for the evening. Isaac's book tells the story of housing in Manchester and how a focus on property development has led to rising inequality in the city. With plenty of opportunities for questions and conversation, I'm sure there's so much that we can learn and implement here in the Calder Valley. I do hope you'll join us for what I'm sure will be a thought-provoking evening."
The celebration event is being delivered in partnership with the Calderdale Trade Union Council and the keynote address will be facilitated by Incredible Edible's Pam Warhurst. Todmorden based Imaginary Wines will be running a wine and beer pop up stall throughout the evening.
Dan Whittal, Chair of Calderdale Trade Union Council, said, "We're excited to partner with the Calder Valley Community Land Trust on this
important and exciting event.
"Housing is an issue across the country but particularly here in Calderdale where housing costs often far exceed local wages. This event will provide a fascinating opportunity to learn from Manchester and explore how we can work together to address the housing crisis and help to improve the lives of local people. We urge as many people as possible to come along."
Calder Valley Community Land Trust was set up in 2014 to help address the affordable housing crisis in the Calder Valley. It has made significant progress since its inception delivering several major housing and community projects across the Calder Valley, including:
A £900k development of six new
independent living bungalows in
Walsden that have provided safe, stable
and sustainable homes for older local
people - Securing ownership of the Fielden Hall which is now a thriving community centre used by 2,000 people each year. The two houses that bookend Fielden Hall have also been turned into affordable homes for the community
- The purchase and retrofit of a property in Hebden Bridge that will be used to provide more affordable rented housing in the town. The Trust also has ambitious plans for its future with a number of exciting projects already in development, including:
- The retrofit of Fielden Hall which is forecast to reduce energy bills by 41% and CO2 emissions by 87%
- A major redevelopment project to create a new enterprise centre on the site of the former Ferney Lee Home for Older People. This will provide 19 affordable rented homes and 23 affordable rented
offices in Todmorden - Renovation works at a beautifully situated but rundown cottage at Jerusalem Farm. The works will bring the empty property back into use and provide an affordable family home to rent in the Luddenden Valley.
Attendees can find out about these projects and more at the celebration event on 14 November. The event formally starts at 7pm but attendees are welcome to come along from 6pm for an informal chat with the Calder Valley Community Land Trust team.
More info about the event and to register to attend