Helping to facilitate the creation of more affordable housing in Penrith looks set to be a top priority for the town council’s newly established communities committee.
At its inaugural meeting, held on Monday, it was agreed that the first community group which should be invited to make a presentation to the committee was Digital Woodoo.
“We imagine a self-build revolution, a future where people can easily build their own affordable, sustainable and energy efficient homes and spaces,” said a spokesman for Digital Woodoo.
Lewis Murray, community services officer for Penrith Town Council, said a CVS grant funding fair had been held in April at which contact was made with a number of groups. “These groups will be invited to future meetings of the communities committee,” he said.
Ian Parker, services and contracts manager, said: “We felt that with this new communities committee being established that it would be really valuable for these organisations to come and present what they are doing for the benefit of Penrith.
“This is so we have a greater understanding of what they are doing, but also to see if that presents opportunities where we can work in partnership with them — helping with advice, funding support and see if they need any extra resources or help in any way for the benefit of the community out there.”
Committee chairwoman Hilary Snell said there were some organisations which had been at the funding fair which she had not realised were operating in Penrith.
Scott Jackson said Digital Woodoo, which is an organisation that identifies and acquires parcels of land to create affordable housing, should be a priority for the committee to hear from.
“I think there are very few things in Penrith that transcend this and are as important to the whole community,” said Mr Jackson.
“The provision of housing in Penrith has not kept up with the needs identified in the housing needs survey. More and more young people are struggling to live in Penrith. They move away to Carlisle, they move further afield.
“It is wonderful that people are coming to retire here with 30 to 40 years still of life and contribution to make and they do enrich the place, but Penrith is going to be hollowed out if there is not enough housing for ordinary people,” said Mr Jackson.
Ms Snell added: “Local people that actually want to stay in Penrith can’t afford the big houses.”
The meeting was told that there were just two properties in the town available to rent through estate agents, and waiting lists of hundreds on Cumbria Choice.
