December 2019 Newsletter

Riannan Martinson • April 9, 2020

The BCLT Staff and trustees would like to wish all of its members a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

2019 A Year in Review

2019 has seen huge changes for BCLT. In September, BCLT took on the running of Community-Led Housing (CLH) West: The Hub, which is an advisory service set out to support and enable a vibrant and sustainable community-led housing sector in the West of England through enabling communities to build their own solutions to the housing crisis.

We have recruited staff to manage the Hub, and Riannan has increased her days to provide additional support. You can find out more about the Hub on the website www.communityledhomeswest.org.uk

We have also had changes to the composition of the board with the resignations of John McGoldrick, Cllr. Mhairi Threlfall, and Andrew O’Sullivan, and the appointments of Danielle Cohen, Michael Grimes, Rachel Butler and Thomas Rasche.

Introducing Susan Iglesias Cataldi


Susan has hit the ground running at 100 miles per hour in her new role as CLH West Manager. She says: “It’s been a whirlwind of activity the last few months, not least bidding for and securing funding for 2020-21 to support the activities of the Hub.


I have also enjoyed getting to know all the Community Led Housing Enablers, as well as speaking to and meeting with a number of groups and individuals. We have some great events coming up, which I won’t say much about now, but keep your eyes peeled for more information.


Right now I’m looking forward to having a relaxing family Christmas, and will be back fully charged in the New Year.”

Keith Cowling, the BCLT Chair, is retiring

Keith has served the BCLT tirelessly as Chair for 9 years and in March 2020 he will be retiring. We are now looking for a new Chair, someone to build on the legacy that Keith has founded. You can find out more about the role, and how to apply, on our website www.bristolclt.co.uk/jobs

If you would like to have a chat about the role please give us a call, after the 6th January, on: 0117 970307

Shaldon Road Update


Progress is going well on site at the Shaldon Road scheme. The ground works are continuing across the site with the site cut and fill works complete together with associated retaining walls.


The piling is now complete to all blocks except for Block A which has the strip foundations complete and blocks loaded out to commence below ground walling. The Ground Source Heat Pump boreholes have been completed to Blocks E and B.

Shaldon Road Applications

Most of the homes at the scheme have been matched to future residents, but there are a few plots that need matching under both Shared Ownership and Affordable Rental tenures.

All homes will be allocated via Help to Buy South for Shared Ownership and Bristol City Council’s Home Choice for Affordable Rent. If you are interested in applying when they become available, it is imperative that you have a registration number for either Home Choice or Help to Buy South.

All shared ownership properties will be advertised on Help to Buy South on the 6th of January and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested in affordable rent properties, you will need to email sales@unitedcommunities.org.uk by the 6th January. The email should include your Home Choice number.

Please remember that this is a self-finish project and will require further commitment from you before moving into the property.

*Market valuations are for illustrative purposes only. Valuations are from March 2019, and are subject to change.

Opportunity Sharing

Our friends at Knowle West Media Centre have some interesting vacancies that you might be interested in: https://kwmc.org.uk/about/opportunities/jobs/

Stir to Action are running a workshop on Community Ownership, that might be of interest to you, or someone you know: https://www.stirtoaction.com/workshops/community-ownership-how-to-get-started