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The Hab Oakus project at Cashes Green in Stroud is "unique and ground breaking", according to David Orr – chief executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF).

He was speaking at a community 'find out more' event at Cashes Green Primary School last weekend (15 October).

The NHF supports and promotes the work of housing associations; campaigns for better housing and neighbourhoods; and supports the National Community Land Trust Network.

Hab Oakus - the joint venture of Kevin McCloud's company Hab and GreenSquare – is working with Gloucestershire Land for People to establish a Cashes Green Community Land Trust (CLT) in Stroud. CLTs are community-led not-for-profit organisations set up to own, develop and run assets, such as affordable housing, workspace, recreational facilities and land for growing food, for the benefit of a defined community.

The freehold of the new affordable housing at the former Cashes Green hospital site will be owned and managed by the new Cashes Green Community Land Trust. People who live in the two Cashes Green wards (East and West) will be eligible to join the new trust and have a say in how it operates. Residents living within the new development will have a say in how the new homes and surrounding external spaces are run through an Estate Management Board.

"What you are doing here is completely unique," said David Orr. "You are breaking new ground - bringing together organisations to provide housing for sale and housing for rent with no public subsidy.

"Everyone involved with this should be proud of the ambition that is being shown here."

He encouraged local people to sign up and join the new community land trust: "The growth of community land trusts is going to be really important," he said. "I'm very proud that the Federation has become the home of the the national CLT network."

The development on the site of the former Cashes Green hospital will provide 78 new homes: 6 one-bedroom flats; 12 two-bedroom flats; 23 two-bedroom houses; 20 three-bedroom houses; and 17 four-bedroom houses. All homes will have many energy and water saving features; many will generate their own electricity through integrated photovoltaic panels. Each type of home will be available for freehold sale, shared ownership and renting for families on the District Council list.

[published online 10/10/11]

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