After six years unsuccessfully trying to find a way to build new affordable homes on land offered by Croydon Council, the Board of Crystal Palace CLT has resolved to propose winding up the Community Land Trust. The CLT has been largely dormant since our planning application was refused in September 2024, save for an unsuccessful appeal lodged by the board.
We will hold a special General Meeting on the 30th April at 7pm, online, at which members will consider the following resolution:
The Members of Crystal Palace Community Land Trust Limited, Register Number: 8184, hereby agree to close the Community Land Trust, and instruct the Board to (1) transfer remaining assets to the National Community Land Trust Network for the purpose of supporting other community-led affordable housing projects in London and (2) cancel the society with the Financial Conduct Authority.
Members will receive a link to join by email. The CLT currently holds net assets of £5,397, all cash at bank. The accounts for the last financial year can be accessed here.
We leave you with a message from Chris, our chair:
It’s strange how some of the most meaningful journeys begin almost by accident—a five-minute phone call, a shared vision, a sense that something good and necessary is within reach.
The Lawns was one of those. What started with a conversation quickly grew into a collaboration grounded in integrity, care, and professional experience. Every consultant brought their best, and every decision was made with thoughtfulness and a deep respect for the place we hoped to enhance. We believed in the story we were trying to tell—one that put community and fairness at its centre.
That it has come to an end—not because of technical failings or lack of commitment, but because of a perception that it might somehow “look out of place”—is hard to absorb. Especially when the guiding principle was always about belonging, sensitivity, and long-term value.
Still, there’s something to be said for clarity. It’s not the result we’d hoped for, but the decision is final, and that offers a clean page. No dragging uncertainty. Just space now to reflect, learn.
To everyone who shared in this journey: thank you. For your trust, your expertise, and for believing, even when the odds quietly shifted.