Stalbridge CLT — This Living Place

● Stalbridge Community Land Trust

A chance to shape Stalbridge’s future

Barrow Hill is a rare opportunity to bring an important local site into community ownership.

Instead of decisions being made elsewhere, this is a chance for local people to shape what happens next.

Why this matters

Stalbridge knows what it feels like to lose important community spaces and vital rural infrastructure. Across rural Britain, places to gather, create, connect and support one another are becoming harder to protect.

Barrow Hill is a chance to do something different. To create something rooted here, shaped here, and held for future generations.

This could become a place for:
- affordable homes for local people
- community gathering space
- creative activity
- enterprise and co-working
- wellbeing and support
- nature and gardens
- youth opportunities
- local learning and skills
The future should be shaped by the people who live here.
Think community-owned pub, but for land and buildings.
A Community Land Trust is a way for local people to collectively own important places, so they stay in community hands for long-term benefit.
Instead of private ownership deciding what happens, the community has a say.
That could mean affordable homes, shared spaces, enterprise, or other things local people choose to prioritise.
The ambition is community ownership.
That means local people becoming members and helping shape decisions.
In time, this will include a community share offer, similar to other successful community-owned projects across the UK.
This isn’t about outside developers. It’s about building a vehicle through which Stalbridge has more control over its own future.
This didn’t appear overnight.
Already:
- local residents have come together through public meetings
- the Stalbridge Community Land Trust has been formed
- conversations about Barrow Hill are underway
- expert advice is being brought in
- early momentum is building
- funding from Dorset Council secured to explore community-ownership of Barrow Hill
This is a real opportunity, not just an idea.
The Stalbridge Community Land Trust has been formed by local people who care about the future of this town.
This builds on years of community effort, including the energy, creativity and connection many experienced through The Gugg.
The board is currently Deanne Tremlett, James Vitali and Jennifer Morisetti.

What's the next step?

The next milestone is to get Barrow Hill Farm into community ownership. We are actively fundraising. If we loose this site, we loose this chance to turn ideas into reality.

If you can help, please get in touch.