Leeds EcovillageLeeds Ecovillage

Project options meetingProject options meeting

March 2008March 2008

Process pointsProcess points

Go roundGo round Ground rulesGround rules Consensus and hand signalsConsensus and hand signals Minute takerMinute taker

Aims of todayAims of today

Update on legal, land, membership issuesUpdate on legal, land, membership issues Agree major project options-contoursAgree major project options-contours Establish a clear project outline which can Establish a clear project outline which can

be presented to council, funders and be presented to council, funders and potential memberspotential members

Finalise legal and membership structureFinalise legal and membership structure

Structure of the dayStructure of the day10am – 12.30pm (with break)10am – 12.30pm (with break) Agreeing previous agreementsAgreeing previous agreements Land updateLand update Legal optionsLegal options Membership of a CLTMembership of a CLT Common House featuresCommon House features

12.30pm – 1.15pm lunch12.30pm – 1.15pm lunch

1.15pm – 4pm (with break)1.15pm – 4pm (with break) Number of houses, sizes, tenuresNumber of houses, sizes, tenures Our membership processOur membership process Environment-energy strategyEnvironment-energy strategy Financial issues – reality checkFinancial issues – reality check Future wish listFuture wish list

Previous agreementsPrevious agreements

There will be a Common HouseThere will be a Common House 20 units (approx) phase 120 units (approx) phase 1 100% permanent affordability (based on 100% permanent affordability (based on

capped % of open market value)capped % of open market value) All residents are members with full All residents are members with full

commitment to values commitment to values Car free on siteCar free on site Design and build phases member-ledDesign and build phases member-led

Land updateLand update Probably south Leeds – is this ok?Probably south Leeds – is this ok? Within an inner city regeneration areaWithin an inner city regeneration area 100% support from LCC – they have appointed two LCC 100% support from LCC – they have appointed two LCC

project championsproject champions Very likely – land gifting on 999 year leaseVery likely – land gifting on 999 year lease Mix of refurbishment of terraces and new buildMix of refurbishment of terraces and new build (1) Beeston – the Beverleys (demolished terraces)(1) Beeston – the Beverleys (demolished terraces) (2) Armley – Dunkirk Hill(2) Armley – Dunkirk Hill (3) Holbeck – not sure(3) Holbeck – not sure Delton Jackson to give us short list of sitesDelton Jackson to give us short list of sites Might be adjacent (rather than on site) land for food growingMight be adjacent (rather than on site) land for food growing Clarify what is not acceptable (eg next to motorway)Clarify what is not acceptable (eg next to motorway)

Legal optionsLegal optionsCHOICE 1.

INCORPORATED?

YES NO

CHOICE 2.

COMMUNITY LAND TRUST?

YES NO

CHOICE 3.

IPS CIC LTD

COMPANY

YES NO

CHOICE 4.

CHARITABLE STATUS

YES NO

A good choice would be:A good choice would be:

An IPS ‘for benefit of the Community’ An IPS ‘for benefit of the Community’ without charitable status acting as a CLT without charitable status acting as a CLT with perpetuity clausewith perpetuity clause

Pros: most democratic, flexible and can do Pros: most democratic, flexible and can do a share offer to raise lots of moneya share offer to raise lots of money

Could add parallel charity to get grants Could add parallel charity to get grants and be tax exemptand be tax exempt

ManagementManagement

Management board (MB) consisting of all 20 Management board (MB) consisting of all 20 residentsresidents

Monthly meetings of MBMonthly meetings of MB 1 LCC and 1 Community rep on monthly MB1 LCC and 1 Community rep on monthly MB Equal voting rights + all decisions by consensusEqual voting rights + all decisions by consensus Smaller management committee (sec, treasurer, Smaller management committee (sec, treasurer,

rent officer etc) – elected annually and rent officer etc) – elected annually and appointed and answerable to MBappointed and answerable to MB

A Phase 2 would be incorporated under same A Phase 2 would be incorporated under same legal structurelegal structure

Common House FeaturesCommon House Features

Kitchen (for 20)Kitchen (for 20) Eating spaceEating space LaundryLaundry ComputersComputers Toolshop-workshopToolshop-workshop Meeting area/physical activity/play area Meeting area/physical activity/play area

(one multi use space)(one multi use space) Spare room for guestsSpare room for guests

Number of houses, tenures, sizes: Number of houses, tenures, sizes: a working proposala working proposal

20 homes in Phase 120 homes in Phase 1

15 = homes for sale15 = homes for sale 3 x 4 beds, 5 x 3 beds, 4 x 2 beds, 3 x1 bed3 x 4 beds, 5 x 3 beds, 4 x 2 beds, 3 x1 bed

5 = homes for rent5 = homes for rent 3 x 1 beds, 2 x 2 beds3 x 1 beds, 2 x 2 beds

(50 bedrooms in total)(50 bedrooms in total)

Our membership processOur membership process Who becomes ‘founding members’?Who becomes ‘founding members’?

- prospective members who feel ready to commit to prospective members who feel ready to commit to living in the project living in the project

- project can move forward and become more inclusive project can move forward and become more inclusive by having a defined legal structure and trajectory by having a defined legal structure and trajectory

Joining process for future membersJoining process for future members-in waves, based on committing to values, diversity and -in waves, based on committing to values, diversity and

get on abilityget on ability Commitment – financial (?£5k £50/month, Commitment – financial (?£5k £50/month,

contractual, time (?3hr/week), valuescontractual, time (?3hr/week), values Sweat equitySweat equity LCC may want ‘nomination rights’ in project for LCC may want ‘nomination rights’ in project for

key workers (controlled by CLT)key workers (controlled by CLT)

Environment-Energy strategyEnvironment-Energy strategy

Aim is carbon neutral communityAim is carbon neutral community Need to pay for professional energy strategyNeed to pay for professional energy strategy Going carbon neutral will cost moreGoing carbon neutral will cost more Minimise energy use through design (eg passive house)Minimise energy use through design (eg passive house) Maximise renewable energy inputs:Maximise renewable energy inputs:

CHP/district heating (local biomass) (heat/elec)CHP/district heating (local biomass) (heat/elec) Passive solar water heating (heat)Passive solar water heating (heat) Ground pump (heat)Ground pump (heat) PVCs (elec)PVCs (elec)

On-site rainwater harvesting for laundry and toilet flushingOn-site rainwater harvesting for laundry and toilet flushing

FinancesFinances Costs to be split collectively:Costs to be split collectively:

Site feasibility studySite feasibility study Architects fees Architects fees Common HouseCommon House Infrastructure (utilities connection)Infrastructure (utilities connection) Company set up feesCompany set up fees Combined Heat and Power SystemCombined Heat and Power System Ground source heat pumpGround source heat pump

Need to look for grants for all of some of theseNeed to look for grants for all of some of these Get start up grants from Unlimited (£5K), Awards for AllGet start up grants from Unlimited (£5K), Awards for All Can issue a share offer as an IPS to raise moneyCan issue a share offer as an IPS to raise money

Need a finance group!!!!!!Need a finance group!!!!!!

Finance continuedFinance continued

Land gifted for free (hopefully)Land gifted for free (hopefully) Homes for sale:Homes for sale:

30% deposit from occupiers30% deposit from occupiers 70% mortgage from Ecology, Triodos, Co-op etc70% mortgage from Ecology, Triodos, Co-op etc

Homes for rentHomes for rent 30% from grants and/or loanstock30% from grants and/or loanstock 70% from commercial loan/mortgage based on 70% from commercial loan/mortgage based on

business plan for rental incomebusiness plan for rental income Resale values capped at % of OMV or % of Resale values capped at % of OMV or % of

Average EarningsAverage Earnings

Future Wish list (dependent on site)Future Wish list (dependent on site)

Land for foodLand for food Educational spaceEducational space Others?Others?