LYME REGIS: Residents turned out in force to a meeting revealing more about a new affordable housing site pinpointed by the Community Land Trust (CLT).

Part of the Charmouth Road Park and Ride site could provide up to 15 houses and has been described by the trust as ‘the only site near Lyme Regis that could be developed as an exception site’.

The news comes after fears that affordable housing for local people in Lyme could be lost due to the rented tenant’s Right to Acquire scheme, which was highlighted in a presentation before the town council in July.

The CLT in Lyme would hold land in trust for the community and offer the buyer the possibility of sharing in the equity of the property, although the trust would retain the freehold.

The leaseholder could be an individual or a housing association but the CLT would have control over who lives there.

A public meeting held at Woodmead Halls on Monday gave residents the chance to find out more about the site and ask questions.

Mayor Sally Holman introduced the meeting, which was attended by more than 40 residents, by thanking the CLT for their hard work creating a land trust generating affordable housing specifically for local people.

CLT director Denis Yell said: “We’ve selected Yarlington Housing Group of Yeovil as the housing association for the proposed scheme and Boon Brown of Yeovil as the architect thanks to funding from the Housing and Communities’ Agency.

“We aim to submit a planning application in October, full planning by March and if accepted, the design will be developed and there will be public consultation.

“The target is for the first tenants to move into their new homes within a couple of years.

“We recognise that being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the landscaping will have to be addressed carefully, and residents will want to know how traffic will be managed.”

The CLT was asked whether it has plans for more schemes, and Mr Yell replied that if landowners can be found who are willing to allow use of a site at the rates a CLT can pay, then the CLT would be keen to proceed.

Denis added: “Several people asking questions expressed their appreciation of us getting this far with the project and, in a show of hands, the majority expressed support for the scheme with none being against it.”

Anyone who shares the CLT’s aims can apply to be a member by visiting lrclt.btck.co.uk