Who are Gŵyr Community Land Trust?

Gŵyr Community Land Trust (Gŵyr CLT) was set up to find a solution to the housing crisis in and around Gower. Gŵyr CLT is inspired by the examples of communities in England and Scotland where thousands of new permanently affordable homes, mainly in rural areas, have been developed by CLTs.

Gŵyr CLT, which established itself in November 2020, is multi-generational, including young couples, families with children, single-persons and includes families with additional needs. The Community Land Trust’s membership is made up of people who live and/or work in the local community. Fed up with the idea of not being able to afford homes in the area they live and work, 6 local families came together to build permanently affordable, low impact, climate positive, beautiful houses in a community-led project that will provide space for the residents, neighbourhood and environment to thrive.

What is our vision?

A world where communities are empowered to re-imagine their surroundings, for themselves and generations to come.

What is our Corporate and Organisation Structure?

Gŵyr Community Land Trust is the trading name of Gower Land Trust CiC, Company Number 13387502. We are Limited by Guarantee without Share Capital.

Three of our members are registered with Companies House as trustees, and are legally responsible for the actions of the company. Two of these trustees have overall responsibility for spending and account keeping, and are signatories on our bank account. CICs are non-profit organisations and are therefore asset-locked. These board members are voted in by the members.

Gŵyr CLT uses sociocracy as a tool for decision making and organisation, with 5 separate Working Groups. Each working group has a representative on the Steering Group, who is entrusted to relay decisions and information between groups. From time to time, ‘task & complete’ groups emerge when defined tasks need to be undertaken, for example funding applications.

As a CIC abiding by co-operative rules, Gŵyr CLT’s decisions are made primarily through a consensus process. If an agreement is not reached, to avoid the stagnation that pure consensus decision-making can cause, each member can express either agreement, consent or an objection to a proposal, in line with sociocracy principles. To find out more about how Sociocracy works go to Sociocracy For All.

Who are your current membership?

Within the core membership there is extensive experience and skill to draw on, from architecture and carpentry to project management and social business management. Gŵyr CLT is currently made up of 10 highly committed adult members and 6 children, along with 6 other families on a waiting list and 133 others who have registered their support.

How do I become a member?  What are your membership criteria?

There are two types of membership of Gŵyr CLT: community member and resident member.

Community membership is open to any person who lives and/or works in the local community or has a strong local connection and supports the aims and objectives of Gŵyr CLT, committing to improving the area for everyone.

To become a resident member, an individual must be an intended future resident; once the construction is complete, all residents must be members. If space becomes available, anybody with a local connection and in housing need as defined by Swansea Council can apply to join, as long as they agree to abide by our Membership Policy.  Our Membership Policy and Manifesto are available to view here.

To join our open mailing list you can subscribe here.

What is a Community Land Trust (CLT)?

Community Land Trusts are democratic, non-profit organisations that own and develop land for the benefit of the community. They typically provide affordable homes, community gardens, shared spaces, energy schemes and conservation landscapes.

They are community organisations run by ordinary people who want to make a difference to their local community, putting control of assets into the hands of local people. They can be set up by the community or a landowner, developer or council.

Protecting community assets forever. They ensure that their homes are permanently and genuinely affordable. CLTs act as long-term stewards of land and the assets on it. They ensure that it is put to the benefit of the local community, not just for now but for every future occupier.

Started in the USA, CLTs are now a worldwide movement. In both urban and rural areas, CLTs are a key part of the future of land, affordable housing and community facilities.

For more information, Community Land Trust Network have put together a video on how CLTs are changing the country.

What is Cohousing?

Cohousing is an approach to creating a community. Often referred to as an intentional community, it really is just that - people living in a way that they themselves have intentionally designed. Cohousing is people coming together to build a neighbourhood that embodies particular values. These values are generally linked to a shared vision for living in a certain way. More often than not the values are around living in a way that increases connectivity, the spirit of looking out for one another and in a way that is environmentally-conscious.

While cohousing has a big focus on living communally, it is different from a commune. Residents have their own homes which surround shared spaces where people can meet, eat together and share resources. Cohousing is not about forcing people to eat together every night and imposing strict rules. Residents decide when and how they want to interact.

Cohousing is a way of resolving the isolation many people experience today, recreating the neighbourly support of the past. This can happen anywhere, in your street or starting a new community using empty homes or building new. Cohousing communities can be intergenerational, welcoming anyone of any age and any family structure, or specifically to cater for people who are older or are communities of common interest.

What is 'Affordable Housing’?

The definition of affordable housing applies to housing where there are secure mechanisms in place to ensure that it is accessible to those who cannot afford market housing, both on first occupation and for subsequent occupiers. It includes social rented housing owned by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords and intermediate housing where prices or rents are above those of social rents but below market housing prices or rents.

What is the need for affordable housing in Gower?

There is a significant need for more affordable housing in Gower and Gower fringe as identified in Swansea council’s Local Housing Strategy 2015-2020, which identified the need for 500 new affordable homes in Gower.  Of these only 93 have been built and 109 proposed, leaving a shortfall of 298 affordable homes. Gŵyr CLT’s innovative plan will guarantee affordability by retaining 100% freehold of the site and houses in perpetuity and is an asset locked organisation with legal restrictions to ensure that these houses are never allowed onto the open market.  Shared ownership home owners will be able to purchase between 15-80% of the lease of their home.  And this will be capped at 80% based on local household incomes.

What area is defined as ‘local’?

In line with Swansea Council Local Needs Policy, the term ‘local’ refers to the Council's administrative wards of Bishopston, Fairwood, Newton, West Cross, Mayals, Mumbles, & Pennard.