Leiston CLT formed in 2019 following a Neighbourhood Plan and a scoping report commissioned by the Town Council and its partners. These reports recognised that Leiston would benefit significantly from town centre redevelopment. This focused particularly in and around the land between the High Street, Sizewell Road and Eastwood Ho. The reports reinforced the need for a mix of uses (residential, retail and community) that could serve to draw more people into the town centre, therefore helping to revitalise it.
The reports also identified that a community land trust would be the most appropriate institutional structure to take the development forward to ensure that a comprehensive scheme is introduced. This would ultimately own or have control over the non-privately owned parts of the scheme.
As a community benefit society, Leiston CLT has a number of key attributes:
Leiston CLT's aims are ambitious. They aim to create a sustainable and economically vibrant town centre; one that is well planned and designed to meet the current and future needs of Leiston and its people. The specific objectives of the CLT include:
Leiston CLT expects that funding for this project will come from various sources, including:
Although the Leiston CLT plan is an ambitious and complex project with a long implementation period, the CLT recognises that its success will depend on building strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with the public and private sectors, and maintaining strong support from the community which will have a large input into the whole scheme.
You can add your support for the scheme by becoming a Leiston CLT member. For more details, see our contact page.
I have been enjoying the East Suffolk coast as a visitor for many years and moved to Snape for work in 2007. I'm engaged in a number of local programmes; I have the privilege of being a trustee at the Long Shop Museum. The prosperity and growth of Leiston and its surrounding parishes is something I feel strongly about and I therefore want to see the Leiston CLT deliver these significant changes.
I am an architect and I have lived in Leiston with my family for 40 years. I would not wish to live anywhere else. Its unique heritage means that Leiston is well placed to become a thriving town again. Because of my work with the CLT I feel I can make a positive contribution towards helping the town realise its potential to become a brilliant place to live, work and visit.
I was eight years old when I was first introduced to the joys of East Suffolk by visiting my grandparents' caravan. Like so many others, I fell in love with the place. It was no surprise then that after retiring from a successful career steering my Bedfordshire based family removals business, I took the opportunity to move permanently to the area. I look forward to driving positive change in the town.
I have now lived in the area for 7 years and am a regular user of Leiston, be it for shopping or leisure. I hope with my experience working in town centres, Business Improvement Districts and having previously been a retailer, that I can assist with the positive changes planned for the town for all of the community, whilst retaining its heritage.
I have lived in Leiston since 1978 and worked as a teaching assistant at Leiston Primary School. I have been involved in voluntary work in the town for over 35 years. In 2015 I was elected a Town Councillor and served as Chairman 2016 – 2020. I am proud to be a Trustee of the Community Land Trust and support plans to enhance our town for the benefit of the community, businesses and visitors.
I moved to Leiston in 1973 as a front line ambulance officer with my young family. My two daughters both attended Leiston Schools, with my disabled son attending special needs education. My disabled son led to a change of career and in 1989 I opened a care home for Elderly Learning Disabled for ten aged residents to become part of the community after 50/60 years in institutions. Following my retirement I was elected to the Town Council and joined the CLT as a trustee. I plan to help promote the town's caring, supportive community that readily welcomed those disabled residents.
Having been born in Leiston, attended all three schools and lived in the town with my family my whole life. Whilst working as an Area Director for HSBC Bank for the last 35 years, latterly looking after all the branches in Suffolk and Norfolk, I have gained a lot of insight into various towns and their differing challenges and dynamics. I hope I can use this experience to support the positive changes, the CLT have. With all towns having to evolve to stay relevant in an ever changing world, I fully support the brilliant initiatives the CLT are driving, to ensure Leiston stays a great place to live, work and for more people to visit and discover how much it and its wonderful people have to offer.
I moved back to Suffolk in 1979 having worked for some years in Advertising and Magazines in London. I have lived in Leiston for 22 years and have spent many years working in Catering. I hope to make a positive contribution to the work of the CLT and help ensure that Leiston’s full potential can be realised, its long history acknowledged, and that it becomes a desirable and popular place to live and work.
Having lived in Leiston all my life, I'm passionate about our town and proud of the great community it supports. Following a career in banking, I have raised my family and enjoyed a number of volunteering roles, in GirlGuiding, as a School Governor and a Town Councillor. As a Trustee on the CLT, I am pleased to be able to support the momentum for change and the Town Centre regeneration project, for the benefit of our community.
If you are interested in joining the Community Land Trust either as a member or a Trustee, please get in touch.
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