I’m pleased to tell you that a number of local residents will soon be moving into eight new community-led affordable homes in Easebourne.

The homes, which are available to let for people who live, have been brought up, or who work in the area, and cannot afford to buy or rent locally, have been purchased by Midhurst Community Land Trust, with the support of Chichester District Council.

We provided grant funding towards the scheme from the council’s Community Led Housing Fund and Section 106 affordable housing funding. The trust also received grant funding from the South Downs National Park Authority, The Boltini Trust and Friends of Midhurst Community Hospital. The remaining costs are being covered by a commercial loan.

The homes, which the Community Land Trust have bought on a new housing development, will be kept for local people; offer a rent which will be around 70% of the local open market rent; and as long as all goes well, the tenants will have use of the homes for life. The Community Land Trust has also fitted carpets and supplied all white goods in the homes, so that they are completely ready for the new tenants to move into.

It is so difficult for local people who have grown up in the area or for local keyworkers to afford to stay here, due to high house prices. Schemes such as this one, mean that people can stay in the area where they grew up, or work, rather than move away to another area, where it may be more affordable to live.

Midhurst Community Land Trust already manages two affordable homes in Midhurst, and another Community Land Trust in the district is in the process of building 12 new affordable homes in Westbourne.

The Midhurst and Westbourne Community Land Trusts have demonstrated what can be achieved when the local community works with the council and other partners to deliver affordable housing. This is why we are so keen for other communities to come forward to work with us in other rural areas.

Housing is a huge issue for the district. Around 2,000 households with a connection to the district — such as people who have been brought up here or who are a key worker in the district — are waiting for a home in our area. We want those who grow up here to have the option to stay here and important key workers to be able to afford to work here. These are important people who we rely on and want to keep close by.

This is why schemes such as this are so important in our rural villages. As a council, we don’t own housing stock and instead work with local registered housing providers who manage and supply local affordable homes. In rural locations, local housing registered housing providers often find it difficult to take on homes in these locations due to the small number of homes involved. This is why Community Land Trusts are so important, because not only are the affordable homes managed by local people, but they are also protected for the use of local people.

If your area is interested in setting up its own affordable housing project, please do get in touch with us. There are many different ways for communities to set up their own housing project. Examples of projects include: community-owned rented housing; low-cost housing for sale; housing co-operatives; self-build schemes; co-ownership; and housing for older people. Our Housing Delivery Team are here to help and support you, so please do get in touch if you want to find out more, or you can visit:www.chichester.gov.uk/communityledhousing.

While on the subject of housing, please don’t forget to participate in our 'Let's Talk: Housing' consultation by 3 March at:https://letstalk.chichester.gov.uk/housing — your views are really important to us.

Best Wishes

Cllr Oona Hickson

Cabinet Member forHousing, Revenues and Benefits at Chichester District Council

As we approach the half term holidays, you may be wondering what activities are taking place to keep everyone entertained.

As Harsha was telling you last week, we are starting and ending the half term holidays with free laser light shows, choreographed to music. The first shows will take place on Saturday 15 February at Petworth House, with the first one at 5.30pm and the second at 6.45pm — both of which will be different displays. Petworth House will also be opening their beautiful house for free from 10.30am until 3.30pm on 15 February — so why not make a day of it and explore what Petworth House and the town has to offer before the shows begin! There will also be crafts, activities and music taking place during the day, thanks to the Culture Spark project.

Then at the end of the week — on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 February — we will be holding our free laser light shows at Chichester Canal Basin for the third year running! This year will be bigger and better than ever, with a new immersive water screen with film clips projected on it. On both nights, the shows, which will be choreographed to music, will take place at 6pm and 7.30pm. We’re proud to be partnering with the National Trust and the Chichester Canal Basin to deliver these exciting shows, which are being funded using grants from the UK Government, secured by Chichester District Council.

During the week, why not visit The Novium Museum, which has launched two exciting exhibitions. Their headline exhibition, ‘I Grew Up 80s’, captures what it was like from a child’s perspective when music was on cassettes, shell suits and leg warmers were must-haves, and everyone received a Rubik’s Cube for Christmas! Not only does it provide a nostalgic trip down memory lane for many, but it also provides an insight for younger visitors to see the differences between then and now. Between 14 and 22 February, there will even be a retro pop-up arcade — delivered through the Culture Spark project — which will be included in the exhibition admission price! Booking in advance is advised: www.thenovium.org.uk/whatson

The museum has also launched its ‘Out & Proud in Chichester’ exhibition. This celebrates the history of Chichester Pride and the inspiring stories of our local LGBTQ+ history, resilience and pride. You can discover powerful stories and explore the journey of this vibrant community through a project dedicated to visibility, education and celebration —www.thenovium.org.uk/pride. Both of the exhibitions mentioned also have a number of additional events and talks that you may also be interested in, so visit www.thenovium.org.uk/whatson to find out more.

From 12 February, people can also explore the vibrant colours of the Chichester District with a free exhibition of open-air paintings at Chichester Cathedral. Created by local artists, the ‘Plein Air’ — or open-air — artworks will be on display until 30 March 2025, as part of an exhibition that is being delivered as through the Culture Spark project — a creative partnership between Chichester District Council, Chichester Festival Theatre and Pallant House Gallery.

Inspired by the Festival of Flowers at Chichester Cathedral and the Still Life exhibition at Pallant House Gallery, Culture Spark welcomed 75 local artists to participate in Plein Air painting sessions last summer. The workshops took place in three beautiful locations – Woolbeding Gardens near Midhurst, Petworth House & Park, and Bishop’s Palace Gardens in Chichester — and many of the artworks created during these sessions will be displayed in the upcoming exhibition.

Remember to also visit our What’s On listings at: www.chichester.gov.uk/whatson and sign up to our monthly email newsletter at: www.chichester.gov.uk/newsalerts, so that you don’t miss out on future events happening in the district.

Best Wishes

Cllr John Cross

Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Place at Chichester District Council