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

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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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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.

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