A Stourbridge-based community group is putting forward an ‘alternative’ plan for affordable local housing in the area with a focus on young people and the community.

Dozens of local residents packed into Katie Fitzgeralds in Stourbridge on Tuesday evening to learn how they might address the issue of lack of local affordable housing. Speakers from University of Birmingham and Accord Housing Group kickstarted a process which organisers hope to revolutionise, through a Community Land Trust, the way that homes are built in Stourbridge.

Stourbridge Community Development Trust has put forward its own scheme, which involves social housing and community space. The scheme would include a health centre, youth centre, playing fields, extra parking and a cycleway link to the town centre.

Eddy Morton, one of the co-founders of SCDT along with Anthony Hughes and Nathan Coyle, has been driving this initiative and has the neglected Longlands site in his sights as a first step.

SCDT have been involved in opposing the plan for 62 homes on the site of the old Longlands school. Their proposal looks at an alternative vision for the Longlands site, a mixed development of self build, social housing and combined workspaces for creatives and tech start ups incorporating the latest in energy saving technology all owned by the community within a Community Land Trust.  

Their proposal seeks to point the way to a more sustainable future,addressing issues of housing, enterprise and innovation, and helping to re-energise Stourbridge as an artistic and creative hub, as well as addressing local issues of parking, traffic and energy poverty. Eddie said:

“Affordability of Housing is a major problem in Stourbridge, certainly for young and creative people. We are looking for people to get involved and take forward the issue of affordable housing.”

To find out more visit the Stourbridge Community Development Trust website.