Home | Marsham Community Land Trust

We are Marsham Community Land Trust – an independent group of local people who have come together to deliver affordable homes and other assets for our community, in perpetuity.

Our aim is to help the three parishes of Guestling, Pett and Fairlight to continue to thrive and to remain vibrant and sustainable communities

Learn more about our vision, mission and values

The new homes will be available for people with local connections to the parishes of Guestling, Fairlight and Pett. Find out more about eligibility and how to stay informed.

What is a Community Land Trust (CLT)?

It is a not for profit community-based organisation run be volunteers that delivers housing and other community facilities at permanently affordable levels for local people.

Are CLTs just about building homes?

CLTs usually have wider ambitions than to just provide affordable homes. They also get involved in promoting community-led initiatives, such as community facilities, workspaces, renewable energy and sustainable land management projects.

How does a CLT create affordability?

To create affordability a CLT needs to receive initial subsidy in one form or another; be it free land, or financial grants from government, charities or benefactors. Once properties have been built, the land on which they are built is protected from fluctuations in land market valuations by a legal “asset lock” that is a fundamental part of all the CLT structure.

How are CLTs run?

CLTs are locally driven, controlled and democratically accountable. They have a membership that is open to all who live or work in the defined community, including occupiers at the properties that the trust owns. The members elect a volunteer board to run the trust on their behalf on a day to day basis.

Learn more about the benefits of a CLT, where it gets the land and how is community ownership protected for the future.