A housing revolution is taking hold in the Ely area with new villages looking to join the community land trust scheme.

Haddenham, Swaffham Bulbeck, Fordham, Little Thetford and Kennet are hoping to set up trusts which encourage affordable housing to help people live and work locally

Trusts are set up 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, Cllr 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.”

Cllr 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.

Meetings take place on:

• A drop in meeting at the Arkenstall Centre, Haddenham on Sunday June 12 from 2pm-4pm.

• Swaffham Bulbeck on May 17

• Little Thetford on May 18.