A volunteer-lead community group in Knaresborough is aiming to renovate an empty house before renting it out to a family in need.
Knaresborough Community Land Trust (CLT) has acquired an empty house in the town and is aiming to raise £70,000 towards essential repairs to “get the house back into use.”
Knaresborough CLT acquired the 3-bedroom house, which they own outright, in 2023. It had been empty for 12 years.
And they’re now inviting residents to sponsor a brick for £10 in order to carry out renovations including lifting the roof and installing a bathroom upstairs.
Once the work has been complete, the group wish to rent out the property at a reduced cost, ensuring that having a home in Knaresborough is “affordable for everyone in our community.”
The project has been supported by Cllr Matt Walker and Cllr Hannah Gostlow of North Yorkshire Council - and they’ve already got the fundraising ball rolling with a generous grant of £5,000 from their locality budgets.
Matt said:
“It is fantastic to see local volunteers coming together once again to do something positive for Knaresborough.
“This is a great opportunity to get empty homes back into use and make sure that the people who support our town can still afford to live in it.
“Hannah and I are delighted to get the ball rolling with £5,000 of North Yorkshire Council Locality budget.”
The project requires £70,000 to turn the house into a family home, and Knaresborough CLT is hoping to raise £20,000 in sponsored bricks.
If they are able to raise more than they need, any extra funds will go back into the running of the CLT and maintenance of the house.
Christine Willoughby, Director of Knaresborough CLT, said:
“This is the first time in 50 years that Knaresborough has owned its own homes.
“I cannot wait until the day we hand over the keys to a Knaresborough family paying a rent that is truly affordable.
“Knaresborough CLT is a membership organisation that exists to provide housing for people who live or work in our lovely town.
“We belong to Knaresborough in every sense. Any assets – such as this house - are “locked” so that they can only be used for the benefit of our community.”
To find out more about the campaign and to sponsor a brick, head to the Crowdfunder page here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/sponsor-a-brick-1
Membership of Knaresborough CLT is open to anyone in the town who wishes to join at a cost of £1.
Members get to vote on the “things that matter”, such as electing the board and deciding the lettings policy.
Find out more at: https://www.knaresboroughhousing.org.uk or follow them on Facebook at: @knaresboroughhomes
LISTEN: Your Harrogate's Pete Egerton spoke to Christine Willoughby, Director of Knaresborough CLT, about the project:
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