The housing needs survey was absolutely critical – because why would we even try to build affordable houses when we don’t know how many, and of what type we need? It would be pointless. The housing needs survey also tells us something else – what market led housing we need as a community. This is gold.

So what was the meeting the other week about then? Revealing the survey results, putting them in the context of the wider planning landscape and starting to think about our next steps.

Survey Results

Here are the survey headlines for those who missed it:

Call for sites

National housing targets for the next 20 years are likely to mean another 90 houses being built in Greystoke. We can have control over some of that through the Community Land Trust.

The council are currently in the process of working out where these houses will go, and the initial results of the first Call for Sites were published in December. There are multiple sites around Greystoke, including Poplin field.

Our vision

Wherever we build, we want the houses to be of good quality, that meet local demand and are in keeping with the local area. We would like to include some bungalows. We would like covenants to prevent holiday lets and second homes. And we want affordable homes to be for local people. We expect the development would need to be more than 20 houses to be viable.

Your input

Members of the CLT will have input on key decisions regularly, such as overall numbers and preferred overall design.

Location and next steps

If we progress with Poplin field we have some high level ideas about what that might look like. But we would need to be absolutely sure we could address any flood risk. And we would look to get experts in to address this, and see whether we can get it to work.

But the Call for Sites also introduces other options – and a fair challenge on the night was ‘why aren’t you looking at them’? We looked at other sites a couple of years ago and approached landowners. But only one was willing to work with us. We’re happy to try again now that other sites are potentially available, and will report back.

Links and resources

There’s a lot of information here, and many moving parts all colliding at once, it seems. So here are some key links to the slides, the housing survey and the Call(s) for Sites.

Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1aRdHgSr9THTxtPqmgZEEfg9Zl1yPxpEEcIswERgqRAw/edit?usp=sharing

Housing Needs Survey SUMMARY: https://greystokeclt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GREYSTOKE-SUMMARY-HNS-Report-2025-compressed.pdf

Housing Needs Survey FULL REPORT: https://greystokeclt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GREYSTOKE-PUBLIC-HNS-Report-2025-compressed.pdf

1st Call for Sites (includes site submissions and initial scoring): https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning/planning-policy/call-sites/2024-call-sites

2nd Call for Sites (also including green spaces): https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning/planning-policy/call-sites/202526-call-sites

Want to influence the future of housing in Greystoke?

You know what to do – join us for £1!

Just want to stay up to date with news?

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Please join us at the village hall on Thursday 29th January at 7pm to find out what our next steps are. This is a public meeting open to members and non-members alike. We will cover:

Some important decisions will need to be made soon, so we hope you join us to find out more.

And if you haven’t already joined us you can do so online below – it’s quick and easy and only costs £1

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If you don’t want to join, you can still sign up to our newsletter by clicking the button below. We promise not to spam you.

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Just £1 secures membership for life and gives you

The CLT will only work if we have the support of the community. The larger we are the stronger we are.

What is a community Land Trust?

Community land trusts (CLTs) are democratic, non profit organisations that own and develop land – including housing – for the benefit of the community.

The CLT’s legal ‘asset lock‘ dictates that assets can only be sold or developed in a manner which benefits the local community. This is in control of the membership.

What we want to do

Get housing we need as a community – not the housing that developers want to build.

Give control of decision making to the community.

The CLT can build housing and could also step in to save other community assets if required – e.g. the local shop.

How to Join?

Fill in our online membership application form or see us at community events where we have paper sign-up forms. Give Allan Buckley £1 of your hard won cash (if depositing this at 18 Jefferson Garth, please be sure to include your name so we know you’d paid!). In the New Year you’ll receive your Share Certificate.

Going to the Frost Fair?

If you are heading to the Frost Fair on Saturday 22nd November, you’ll be able to learn more, and join as a member!

Don’t want to be a member?

If you don’t want to join, you can still sign up to our newsletter by clicking the button below. We promise not to spam you.

The post Membership is open appeared first on Greystoke Community Land Trust.

ACTion with Communities in Cumbria (ACT) has been commissioned by Greystoke Community Housing, with the full support of Greystoke Parish Council, to carry out this survey and produce an independent report.

Please take 10 minutes to fill in this important housing needs survey. Survey closes 12th September.

Paper copies of the survey are also available at the shop (from Monday)

We’re distributing paper copies of the survey to households in the Parish in the week commencing 3rd August. If you have any questions about completing the form, or would like additional forms please phone Action for Communities in Cumbria (ACT) on 01768 425666, or email Fran Richardson, ACT Lead Adviser on Housing, on franrichardson@cumbriaaction.org.uk

If you haven’t received a copy, please drop us an email (greystokecommunitygroup@gmail.com) or messages us on Facebook and we’ll get a copy to you.

Why this survey matters.

This is your chance to have a say in the future of housing in our community.

Like many rural communities, we face real challenges: rising house prices, limited rental options, and a shortage of homes that meet the needs of local people. Whether you’re a young adult hoping to stay in the village, a growing family, an older resident looking to downsize, or simply someone who cares about the future of our community – your voice matters.

This survey gives every resident a voice.

It helps us understand who lives here now, what kind of homes people need, and how things might change in the future. This isn’t about encouraging large-scale development. It’s about ensuring we can plan for the right homes in the right places – for the people who already live and work here, and those who want to stay.

Let’s get the right homes for our community.

With strong local evidence, we can make the case to housing associations, developers, and local councils for more affordable, appropriate homes – homes that support the long-term future of our village, not just the short-term market. It helps us push for the right types of homes – affordable, suitable, and sensitively built in the right places. Not speculative developments that don’t serve our community, but homes designed to support the future of our village.

Take control of our future.

Without this data, we risk being overlooked or misunderstood. With it, we take control of our future. It’s about keeping our community together, preserving the heart of rural life, and ensuring that local people aren’t forced to move away.

Please take the time to fill in this survey. Together, we can make sure our housing reflects the needs of our community – not just now, but for generations to come.

Sign up or comment below

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The post Housing Needs Survey appeared first on Greystoke Community Land Trust.

This is your chance to have a say in the future of housing in our community.

Like many rural communities, we face real challenges: rising house prices, limited rental options, and a shortage of homes that meet the needs of local people. Whether you’re a young adult hoping to stay in the village, a growing family, an older resident looking to downsize, or simply someone who cares about the future of our community – your voice matters.

This survey gives every resident a voice.

It helps us understand who lives here now, what kind of homes people need, and how things might change in the future. This isn’t about encouraging large-scale development. It’s about ensuring we can plan for the right homes in the right places – for the people who already live and work here, and those who want to stay.

Let’s get the right homes for our community.

With strong local evidence, we can make the case to housing associations, developers, and local councils for more affordable, appropriate homes – homes that support the long-term future of our village, not just the short-term market. It helps us push for the right types of homes – affordable, suitable, and sensitively built in the right places. Not speculative developments that don’t serve our community, but homes designed to support the future of our village.

Take control of our future.

Without this data, we risk being overlooked or misunderstood. With it, we take control of our future. It’s about keeping our community together, preserving the heart of rural life, and ensuring that local people aren’t forced to move away.

Please take part when the survey arrives. Together, we can make sure our housing reflects the needs of our community – not just now, but for generations to come.

You’ll be able to request extra printed copies of the survey should you need them, or it can be filled in online.

At time of writing we don’t have exact dates yet so please keep a lookout on the noticeboards, our Facebook group, the village Facebook group and the website for more information as we get it.

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreystokeParishCommunityHousing

Join the village Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/greystokevillage

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