Keswick Community Housing Trust
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About KCHT


​KCHT is a Community Land Trust, run by volunteers, and was formed in response to a series of Churches Together in Keswick consultations in 2009.  This highlighted the housing issues experienced in Keswick due to the combined impact of high house prices and second homes, low wages associated with the tourism industry, the loss of affordable housing through the Right to Buy, and the high cost of a housing association shared ownership scheme.
​
Our aim is to provide homes for local people who cannot afford to buy or rent long-term accommodation at current market prices.  
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In May 2011, Allerdale District Council Housing Needs Survey reported that:


In the Keswick area, estate agents sold more properties as second homes and holiday lets than they sold to local people.  Prices were unaffordable for virtually the entire local population, and there was an imbalanced market for owner occupiers and social renters, with the highest need for 3-bedroom houses for rent.
​

In May 2016, Allerdale District Council Housing Needs Survey reported that:


The sales market within the Keswick area was described as “huge” by all estate agents.  The style of homes available combined with the image and reputation of the area continued to make this a very popular location for buy-to-let investors and those seeking second homes, with good properties selling within a matter of days of entering the market.  Most investors were from out of the area and wished to capitalise on the high demand for holiday-lets as well as relatively cheaper property prices when compared with prices in the south of England.  Highest demand was for three-bedroom properties with the average price around £300k.  Property prices in the area were significantly higher compared with other parts of the Borough.  As a result, Estate Agents felt that affordability presented a key challenge for the area as many remain priced out and noted that the high levels of demand continued to encourage local house prices to rise.
​
The rental market in Keswick is limited despite strong demand for rental homes in the area.  Agents reported that many families will aim to seek a rental property in the area if it allows them to access a home locally.  Furthermore, the presence of excellent local schools continued to attract families however, the limited rental housing stock available and issues around affordability often meant they would seek property in cheaper parts of the Borough such as Cockermouth and would send their children to the schools located in Keswick.

​Our current property portfolio consists of 40 houses across 4 developments.

KCHT Mission Statement


1.   Set up a Community Land Trust to contribute to the stock of affordable houses for local people primarily in Keswick and immediate neighbourhoods.

2.   Work with providers of affordable housing: statutory authorities; advisory and voluntary bodies; builders and local businesses; local groups and individuals who support the cause.


3.   Consult with and represent the wider community and those in need of affordable housing.

4.   Secure a formula to permanently protect the Trust’s affordable housing so that it cannot be lost to the commercial market.


5.   Include sustainability in the design and building of affordable housing (encouraged by the Lake District National Park Planning Authority).

Our People

KCHT is a Community Land Trust, run by volunteers.  The Board meets as a Working Group on a monthly basis to discuss, review and work through matters of interest to the functioning of KCHT.  On occasion, additional single item meetings are scheduled to allow for in depth discussions.   Where decisions are reached at these meetings that require a formal Board Resolution, these are circulated separately by email for confirmation by the Board Members.  Our meetings are held using a hybrid meeting format as this provides the flexibility for attendance in person or via video link. ​

Bill Bewley
Bill Bewley 
​Chair 

Background:  ​Quakers, Churches Together
​

•  **
Joyce Swainbank
Joyce Swainbank  
Treasurer 
​Background: Retired Customer Services Advisor, Skipton Building Society
​
•  **
Peter Toes
Peter Toes  
Vice Chair
​Background: Chartered Surveyor, College of Policing
​
• **
Benita Lapthorn
Benita Lapthorn 
Secretary 

Background: Customer Services Advisor, Skipton Building Society
​
 ​•  **
Allan Daniels
Allan Daniels 
Background:  Retired Councillor, Allerdale BC
•  **
Allan Daniels
Andy Lloyd 
Background:  Retired consultant for community led housing
•  **
Vic Gibson
Vic Gibson  
Background: Journalist
​
•  **
Peter Roberts
Peter Roberts 
Background: Retired Deputy Head
​​
•  **
Andrew Stephenson
Andrew Stephenson 
Background: ​Lead Planning & Performance Manager, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
 •  **
David Whipps
David Whipps  
Background: ​Solicitor, Holmes and Hills​
​
​•  **
Key:       • Board Member         ** Working Group

Case Studies featuring Keswick Community Housing Trust

Since formation, KCHT has been fortunate to receive support, both financial and non-financial, from the local community, Local Authorities and Government Agencies.  In return we share our experiences of building houses as a CLT with other newly forming Community Land Trust groups and interested parties.

As a result KCHT has been included as a case study on a number of websites:
  • Reach Community Housing
  • Community Housing Project Development 
  • The Church of England Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing 
  • CLT Toolkit Case Study

History of Keswick Community Housing Trust

2009

6 open meetings of Keswick Churches Together about the issues facing the town.
5 Nov 2009 – 1st Steering Group meeting where KCHT officers were elected and a terms of reference adopted

2010

​17 Dec 2010 – registered as an Industrial Provident Society

2012

​3rd May – registered as a non-profit, private, registered provider of Social Housing
21st June – Share Offer launched to support the development of The Hopes

2013

January – Work commenced on building The Hopes
December – Official opening of The Hopes
KCHT The Hopes

2015

January – Planning permission for Banks Court
March – Planning Permission for Calvert Way Development
April – Work commenced on redeveloping Banks Court
September – Official opening of Banks Court
KCHT Banks Court

2017

Opening of Calvert Way
KCHT Calvert Way

2019

October – Work began on Southey Court
KCHT Southey Court

2021

July – Official opening of Southey Court
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2023

March – Entered into a lease to manage 4 flats at Otley Road on behalf of Cumberland Council
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2024

 Provided property management services for two private owners
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​
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Keswick Community Housing Trust Limited
Registration Number: 31141R
Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014
Our Rules
(FCA Mutuals Public Register) 
Registered Address:
Oglethorpe & Broatch Solicitors
6 Borrowdale Road, Keswick,
​Cumbria CA12 5DB
Exempt Charitable Status
​Ref No: XT36054
(for tax purposes under schedule 6 Finance Act 2010)
Latest Annual Report 
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​Latest Tenant Satisfaction Measures Report ​

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        • The Hopes
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