Welcome to the Abbotts Ann Community Land Trust website

(This page was last updated on Wednesday 15th November 2023)

Our main objectives are to provide

affordable homes to rent and for shared ownership

and

homes for sale especially suitable for “down-sizers”

We are still working hard on our plan to develop the Duck Street site with the scheme that has drawn such strong support from the community and are pleased to report that we have now made significant progress and are hopeful of announcing soon the conclusion of agreements that will secure the land and make progress with the development.

THE STORY SO FAR:

With the active involvement of the people of Abbotts Ann we looked at possible sites and identified a site adjoining the Abbotts Ann Primary School in Duck Street.  We commissioned a design that echoes the character of Abbotts Ann.  We want the development to be of excellent design and have high standards of energy efficiency.

Planning  policies require us to demonstrate community benefit in addition to the new homes themselves.   We will provide low carbon energy to the new homes (and perhaps beyond) and will give support to the village shop and other village activities.  We have proposed an increased contribution from the housing development of £150,000 towards the construction of a new community clubhouse at Bulbery Sportsfield.

OUR NEW DEVELOPMENT PARTNER

We have selected as our new development partner OXFORD ADVANCED LIVING (“OAL”) a developer who shares our commitment to good design and sustainability.  We have been working with OAL and the land owner’s agents to agree terms for an agreement that will give OAL the option to buy the land, and also a Development Agreement between OAL and AACLT that will include our requirements for the content and standards of the development.

THE NEXT STEPS

Once the Option Agreement and Development Agreement have both been signed, we will finalise the planning application (which will include further discussions with the Parish Council) and will carry out further community consultation with all residents of Abbotts Ann.  We are hopeful that real progress can be made and that a planning application will be submitted during the first 6 months of 2024.

Your support is vital and there will be further opportunities for you to contribute to the development of the design and to register your comments (both with us and also with Test Valley Borough Council once the planning application is submitted).

We will, of course, continue to update you on our progress!

In the meantime, if you would like to look back at any of the public consultation documents then they are still available to view via the following links: 

1st Public Community Consultation proposal

1st Public Community Consultation response

2nd Public Community Consultation proposal

2nd Public Community Consultation response

If you are interested in the affordable housing – which will be specifically for people living or working in Abbotts Ann or with a close family connection to the village – you will need to join the housing register.  To find out all about this go to  ‘How do I apply for affordable housing in Test Valley?’ where you will find all the information, including a link to the Hampshire Home Choice website where you can apply to join the housing register.  

If you have any further questions or would like to contact us for any reason, please email the AACLT at enquiries@aaclt.abbottsann.com