Business Model

This heading is a bit ‘corporate’ for a community land trust but it does succinctly describe the operational basis that will be chosen by the Trustees and Members to organise and manage our affordable homes project. Before we can determine the most appropriate business model, we will need to consider:

• Whether to act alone or in partnership with, for example, a Housing Association, to raise funds, acquire the land, design and build the houses.

• Whether BNCLT would manage the process of recruiting tenants and managing the lettings and maintenance over the longer term, or whether we should involve a third party.

• Whether or not BNCT should become a Registered Provider of homes to let.

In general, the more we can manage ourselves, the more we can protect the Parish environment and the more we can control the look and location of the homes we provide. On the other hand, the more we control, the greater the challenges for such a small team to secure funding, work with architects, obtaining planning permission, manage costs and project-manage every stage of the process from pre-planning to letting and long-term management.

There is no perfect solution, and the outcomes of the decisions taken will remain with us for many years to come. The BNCLT Board will, of course, put a proposal to Members for their views before any policy is finalised.