The Growth of Community Land Trusts in England and Europe

Book Cover for Growth of CLTs in England and Europe

Available now worldwide, 110 pp.
PAPERBACK ISBN 9781736275986 $14.00 US

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During the past two decades, as markets have pushed the price of land and housing beyond the reach of low- and middle-income families, governments in England and Europe have struggled to provide effective policy responses. This has prompted NGOs and community activists to seek innovative solutions of their own, looking beyond conventional approaches to housing provision long promoted by either the market or the state. One promising innovation, in particular, has attracted an increasing amount of attention and support: the community land trust (CLT).

The Growth of Community Land Trusts in England and Europefeatures local, national, and cross-national efforts to grow the CLT movement in this part of the world. The monograph’s chapters were selected from On Common Ground: International Perspectives on the Community Land Trust, a collection of twenty-six original essays published in June 2020 by Terra Nostra Press. But in the years since these essays were written, there have been significant changes among CLTs in London, Brussels, England, and Europe — and within the networks supporting them. Postscripts have been added to this monograph’s chapters, therefore, bringing the story of community land trusts in these cities and countries up to date.

The Publication of The Growth of Community Land Trusts in England and Europe was made possible through the funding support of the following organizations.

SHICC (Sustainable Housing for Inclusive and Cohesive Cities) is a European project that aims to develop, support and disseminate the CLT/OFS model in Europe. SHICC is structured around three main themes: recognition of the legitimacy of the model, creation of a financial and legislative environment conducive to the establishment and expansion of CLT/OFS, and capacity building for existing and emerging CLT/OFS. 

The five essays contained in this monograph were selected from On Common Ground: International Perspectives on the Community Land Trust, published in June 2020. They are gathered here because of a similar focus on the growth of local organizations, national networks, and cross-national communication among community land trusts in England and Europe. Included in the monograph’s contents are the following chapters (with updated postscripts):

  • Foreword:  Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms
  • Introduction:  John Emmeus Davis, Line Algoed, and Maria E. Hernandez-Torrales
  • Chapter One:  Yves Cabannes and Philip Ross, “The Once and Future Garden City”
  • Chapter Three:  Dave Smith, “London Community Land Trust: A Story of People, Power, and Perseverance”, with a postscript by Calum Green
  • Chapter Three: Geert De Pauw and Nele Aernouts, “From Pressure Group to Government Partner: The Story of the Brussels Community Land Trust”
  • Chapter Four:     Stephen Hill, Catherine Harrington, and Tom Archer, “Messy Is Good! Origins and Evolution of the CLT Movement in England”
  • Chapter Five: Geert De Pauw and Joaquin de Santos, “Beyond England – Origins and Evolution of the CLT Movement in Europe”