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Entrance to the old Parks Department nursery.Ilfracombe Community Land Trust is delighted that North Devon Council has agreed to transfer the freehold of the former Bicclescombe Nursery site to the Trust for the development of much-needed new social housing.
There is a long road ahead, but the Community Land Trust wants to work alongside local people from the beginning, consulting with potential tenants, neighbours, and expert advisers to provide housing that meets the needs of the community - as far as possible respecting the natural environment of the site while enabling local people to live in comfortable, affordable housing in their own town.
lfracombe Community Land Trust is a not-for-profit group made up of local people. It plans to partner with an experienced and registered provider of social housing to provide approximately 15 new units on the site, which has been unoccupied since 2005.
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Terry Elliott, Secretary of Ilfracombe Land Trust, Ilfracombe Town Councillor for East Ward and Housing Champion for the town reported to the council on 14th November;
"I wanted to update members on a hugely successful outcome for Ilfracombe Community Land Trust.
Terry ElliottAs you know I was keen to follow up the idea of a Land Trust after a presentation by Middlemarch to the Town Council several years ago pre Covid. It seemed a difficult task at first but it offered such a unique opportunity to address the housing crisis in Ilfracombe that a Land Trust was formed with some really proactive and amazing members. Their determination has meant not only the formation of an Ilfracombe Community Land Trust but after much hard work by members, the decision by North Devon District Council to give the Trust ownership of the land at Bicclescombe Nursery. This land, which is part of the local plan for development, will be used to build 15 custom build mixed sized homes for social rent for local people in perpetuity. It is a small but significant part of a solution to the problem of lack of housing for people in Ilfracombe. I hope that members will join me in celebrating this outcome.
There is obviously much work still to do including sharing our vision with the public and working with future residents, neighbours, architects, Middlemarch and our housing association partner to achieve an exemplary development in the heart of Ilfracombe for our Community. I will of course keep members updated."