An affordable family home opened its doors in Stretham to show the public the revolution that is spreading across the Ely area.

Ely Standard: The Community Land Trust Show home. Picture: Steve Williams.The Community Land Trust Show home. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

The home is thanks to a Community Land Trust set up in the village to encourage more people to live and work locally.

The Stretham home is finished to a high specification and is one of a growing number of properties begin developed to help people get onto the property ladder.

It was opened over the Feast weekend in the village so people could take a tour.

Other villages setting up trusts include Haddenham, Swaffham Bulbeck, Fordham, Little Thetford and Kennett.

Ely Standard: The Community Land Trust Show home. Director, Mark Peck from Cheffins. Picture: Steve Williams.The Community Land Trust Show home. Director, Mark Peck from Cheffins. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

Already set up are trusts in Soham, Witchford and Swaffham Prior while affordable homes are well on their way in Stretham and Wilburton.

Haddenham and Fordham are waiting for confirmation to become legal bodies and Kennett has taken its first steps towards forming a CLT.

East Cambs District Council says it is paving the way nationally with Community Land Trusts (CLTs).

Council leader James Palmer, said: “I’m committed, and so are the council, to providing affordable housing for local people and that’s why we are helping to establish CLTs to kick start development in the district for the benefit of our communities in the future.”

Ely Standard: The Community Land Trust Show home. Picture: Steve Williams.The Community Land Trust Show home. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

Councillor Charles Roberts, deputy leader of the council, said: “I’m a strong believer in localism, whereby local people have a real say in what’s happening in their towns and villages, rather than being subject to decisions made by other people, such as ministers, who live elsewhere in the country and lack knowledge of the area.”

A CLT is created when people from a village, street, neighbourhood or town get together to form a non-profit organisation for the good of their community.

Run completely by trustees they strive to meet the long-term needs of its community with affordable housing, workspaces or acquiring pubs, gardens and shops, which can remain under the ownership of the CLT organisation forever.