A few helpful answers.
Getting to know the trust and how membership works.
About the trust and our parish.
What is a Community Land Trust?
A CLT is a community-led, not-for-profit organisation that looks after land and assets for long-term local benefit. Members help guide its direction.
What can a community asset be?
Homes, workspaces, land and other facilities that serve the community. Affordable rented homes are the main focus of the Bury initiative.
How are community assets protected?
The CLT model uses an asset lock to keep value working for the community. If an asset is sold, proceeds are intended for community purposes rather than payouts to members. The trust’s governing documents set out its arrangements.
Why a CLT in Bury Parish?
The aim is to give local people a voice in housing development and help people with a local connection remain part of parish life. The 2025 housing survey provides evidence to inform this work; it does not approve a development.
Is the CLT part of either council?
The initiative began with parish council support, but the CLT is intended to operate independently of Bury Parish Council and Chichester District Council.
What is the difference between the steering group and the CLT?
The steering group was formed to establish the trust. For the current committee and formal governance arrangements, contact the trust; the original steering-group list should not be treated as a current membership list.
Is the trust a charity, a company or a registered society?
The old website left the legal structure, incorporation and regulatory arrangements to be confirmed. Please request the current registration details and governing documents from the trust. The availability of website membership does not itself establish legal status.
How can I find out about accountability and conflicts of interest?
Ask the trust for its current governing documents, decision-making arrangements and register of interests. The old website committed to publishing interests; a verified register is not yet included here.
Is the initiative politically aligned?
The original FAQs described the initiative as non-political. Its stated purpose is to serve the local community.
Are there other local CLTs?
The original FAQs pointed to Arundel, Midhurst and Slinfold as local examples. The February 2026 information event also explored experience from Westbourne.
What about the village school?
In comments published on the old website, the headteacher described how the school depended on pupils from beyond the village as well as local children, and how local families could support its long-term future. The chair of governors also discussed local admissions priority. These are historical comments, not a statement of current capacity or a guarantee of a school place. Check current admissions information directly with the school.
Read the housing survey findings ↗
Membership and taking part.
How do I become a member?
Create an account using your email and a password, then complete the application with your name, postcode and parish connection. The committee reviews applications. An administrator can also add a member directly and provide a private password-setup link.
When do I pay the £1?
Payment is requested after approval. Online payment is available only when the payment service is connected; otherwise contact the trust. An administrator may activate an approved membership separately. Manual activation does not record an online payment.
What can members do on this website?
Active members can start or reply to discussions, take part in member polls and RSVP to events. The members area also shows membership status.
What about AGMs and electing the board?
The original membership plans included AGM participation and board elections. Formal voting rights and procedures depend on the trust’s governing rules. Website polls should not be assumed to replace an AGM or a formal election.
What are the different website roles?
Members use the community areas. Committee members can review applications, manage events and polls, moderate discussions and use email tools when connected. Administrators can also add members, activate memberships and assign roles.
Does membership guarantee a home?
No. Membership and housing allocation are separate. Any future homes will need an agreed allocation policy and eligibility criteria; membership alone does not guarantee a home or priority.
Can I change a submitted website vote?
No. Each active member can submit one final vote per poll. Results become visible after you vote or when the poll closes.
I have been sent a setup link. What should I do?
Open the complete private link, choose your password and accept the privacy information. The link works once and expires after 48 hours. If it expires, ask an administrator to generate a replacement.
From our information event.
These edited summaries preserve the questions and discussion recorded on the original website. They are not verbatim quotations, current funding advice or commitments to a particular Bury development.
How large was the Westbourne site?
Frank Campbell, Chair of Westbourne Community Trust, described it as one acre. This was an example from Westbourne, not a proposed size for a Bury project.
What would a member do?
Richard Champness described participation including AGM voting. Refer to the current membership information and governing rules for Bury’s arrangements.
How many people might want to move to Bury?
Louise Williams, Housing Enabler at Chichester District Council, explained that demand can be difficult to establish before homes are proposed. Housing-register information about local connections does not capture every possible interest in moving to an area.
Would people apply only after homes were built?
Frank Campbell noted that local interest may become clearer as a project develops. This was experience shared from another scheme, rather than a decision about Bury’s application process.
How would the size and type of homes be decided?
Louise Williams discussed housing evidence, the district council’s housing role and the South Downs National Park Authority’s planning role. The discussion highlighted how a CLT could influence the mix of homes. No housing mix or planning approval for Bury was announced in these notes.
Could Westbourne help with mentoring and funding?
Frank Campbell discussed the importance of advice and Westbourne’s experience as a developer and registered provider. Louise Williams described the community-led housing funding position at the time. These remarks are not a current funding offer or a guarantee of grant support.
Who owned the Westbourne site?
Frank Campbell described council ownership of the site, an earlier unsuccessful development proposal and a later lease arrangement, with the homes owned by the trust. This describes Westbourne’s experience, not a land arrangement in Bury.
What experience did Frank bring?
He described a background in planning and as a director in local government.
Background and historical discussion adapted from the original Bury Parish CLT FAQs. Membership instructions describe the current website. Where formal details remain unconfirmed, please ask the trust.
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