The Southey Court development will be officially opened in Spring 2021

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

Keswick is a special place to live and work in – positioned on the shores of Derwentwater, and surrounded by fells and woodlands.  Tourism is an essential element of life in Keswick however the rising proportion of properties being used as second homes or holiday cottages within Keswick and the surrounding area is depleting the housing stock available for the local community to buy or rent, and the rate that house prices have increased makes it very difficult for local people to buy a home or find one to rent.  As a consequence, the sense of ‘local community’ is gradually being eroded.
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KCHT has formed a lobbying sub-group to working with the Keswick Town Council, and other interested parties.
Article in Keswick Reminder 22 Dec 2020
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Friday 11th December, Letter from Bill Bewley to the Reminder “Work together to keep town vibrant and flourishing for young families of the future.”
Article in Keswick Reminder October 2020

Work has now been started on the Southey Court Development

The Calvert Way development has been officially opened

The ​official opening of Banks Court

Planning permission has been granted for Banks Court

Cllr Andrew Lysser, who was county councillor for Keswick, prepares to cut the ribbon to officially open The Hopes shortly before Christmas 2013, watched by guests including residents and KCHT members. "The work that has gone into creating this is phenomenal. I thought the task would be impossible. To see it completed now is exceptional. I don't think you guys (the trust) will ever comprehend what you have achieved. It is very moving, The Lake District in general is suffering from a lack of genuinely affordable local housing. You can put local occupancy clauses on houses in Keswick but they still cost £250,000 to £300,000 and it doesn't relate to local housing needs if you are on the minimum wage, which a lot of people are," said Cllr Lysser.

December 2012 and work starts on The Hopes housing development, with KCHT chairman Bill Bewley (holding spade) joined by fellow volunteers from the trust  He said: "We have made a difference in Keswick with The Hopes and we hope to go on to make an even bigger difference."

Keswick Community Housing Trust registered as a non-profit, private, registered provider of Social Housing

Keswick Community Housing Trust registered as an Industrial Provident Society