Three Liverpool-based Community Land Trusts (CLTs), Rotunda, L8 Matters, and The Florrie, are celebrating a significant milestone as they progress through Liverpool City Council’s Community Asset Land Transfer process. 

This critical advancement brings the organisations closer to taking formal ownership of regional land to deliver 225 new-build homes and over 2,000 square metres of newly managed workspace for long-term community benefit.

All three trusts form part of the Liverpool CLT Collective, with each entity permanently rooted within its respective neighbourhood. 

Achieving this major milestone means that formal Heads of Terms agreements are now in place for the transfer of plots under Liverpool City Council’s Community Asset Land Transfer policy. 

This marks a major step forward in Liverpool’s ambitious community-led housing programme, paving the way for urban land to move into long-term community ownership while generating associated construction jobs and broader economic benefits across the region.

The regeneration programme is being delivered in close partnership with Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. 

To date, these governing bodies have provided vital pre-development funding that has proven instrumental in supporting the collective’s ongoing organisational progress.

Councillor Graham Morgan, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, said: 

“This marks a major step forward for community-led housing in the Liverpool City Region. 

“This programme shows what’s possible when local organisations, residents and partners work together with a shared vision for long-term community benefit. 

“By placing land into community stewardship, we are not only delivering much-needed affordable homes, but also creating stronger, more resilient neighbourhoods where local people have a genuine stake in shaping their future.”

Three Grassroots Operations Outline Individual Local Development Visions

The distinct localised plans moving forward under the newly approved framework span across specific northern and southern districts of the city:

• Rotunda Community Land Trust: Operating in Kirkdale, North Liverpool, this trust is progressing ground-breaking plans to deliver 112 vital affordable homes owned and led entirely by the community. The development concept combines local leadership, environmentally conscious Passivhaus technologies, and dementia-friendly design principles to support intergenerational living. This project is preceded by Rotunda House, a Grade II listed heritage building refurbished by Rotunda CLT that now serves a renewed social purpose by providing high-quality transitional housing and wraparound support for women facing barriers to accessing opportunities, with an opening date set for July 2026.
• L8 Matters Community Land Trust: Established in March 2021, this trust is leading a community-driven regeneration programme in and around Lodge Lane, Liverpool 8, to ensure new developments reflect local priorities. Working alongside a registered housing provider, the trust is bringing forward the first phase of its vision on the former Lodge Lane Baths site, delivering 16 affordable houses and apartments alongside landscaped open spaces. This forms the first step toward the broader Lodge Lane Baths Village, a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood combining affordable housing with community facilities, education, enterprise spaces, an indoor market, and training opportunities to drive regeneration in Liverpool 8.
• The Florrie Community Land Trust: Established in 2019 and working in partnership with The Sovini Group, this trust is progressing the detailed design and development of an ambitious community-led housing regeneration programme in Dingle, Liverpool 8. Building on its long-established role as a trusted community anchor, the development will create 97 high-quality affordable homes, vibrant new public green spaces, active travel routes connecting Dingle to Liverpool city centre, and 11 commercial units designed to support local enterprise and create sustainable jobs.

Regional Coalitions Combine Efforts to Accelerate Social Housing Construction

The successful execution of the Heads of Terms signifies a clear vote of confidence from regional authorities, cementing a shared commitment to establishing permanent community stewardship over public assets.

Maxine Ennis, speaking on behalf of the Liverpool CLT Collective, said: 

“Reaching agreement with the Council on the land transfer is a defining moment for our projects and the city. 

“It demonstrates a clear vote of confidence from the Council in our ambitions to place Liverpool at the forefront of community-led housing nationally. 

“The CLT’s will ensure that the housing built on our sites will be affordable and place the needs of local residents at the heart of the developments.”

As the formal legal transfer process continues, the member trusts will maintain ongoing collaborations with Liverpool City Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and Homes England. 

These combined efforts aim to finalise all outstanding design, planning, and capital funding issues to accelerate the physical delivery of much-needed social housing across the city.

Once completed, the combined schemes will collectively deliver 225 permanently affordable, community-owned homes across north and south Liverpool, establish long-term community stewardship of local land, offer locally designed housing reflecting specific neighbourhood priorities, and secure increased community control over long-term urban regeneration.

Members of the public seeking further details regarding individual schemes can contact organisers directly via the official emails at Rotunda (rotundaCEO@therotunda.org.uk), L8 Matters (L8matters@gmail.com), The Florrie (info@theflorrie.org) or visit the website here.

READ MORE: Liverpool Children’s Services Overhaul Praised as Ofsted Upgrades Ratings