4 February 2025 – Tom Chance

This Land is Our Land

Community Land Trusts in rural communities

Hundreds of rural communities have set up community land trusts to buy land to ensure it is used for community benefit, whether building affordable homes and workspaces or protecting habitats. One of the pioneer community land trusts was established in Bishops Castle, followed a decade later by Middle Marches CLT which grew out of Church Stretton. Tom will talk about their history, purpose and their benefits to rural communities.

Tom Chance

Tom is the chief executive of the community land trust network, a membership body for 350 Community Land Trusts in England and Wales. Prior to this he worked in city government in London, for a charity specialising in sustainability in construction, and as a freelance researcher. He lives in Shrewsbury.