• YOUR Comment (Lives being sacrificed for the scandalous HS2 project, October 29) made a number of excellent points about housing, in light of an intervention I had made, and then posed a question directly to me.

The CNJ asked if my party and I support Community Land Trusts delivering affordable housing on Camley Street and in Belsize Park. And I’m proud that the answer is unequivocally yes!

In fact, in September 2019, I launched a “call-in” to formally challenge Camden’s proposals to develop the Camley Street site before the Camley Street neighbourhood plan could be adopted. I am pleased that I could persuade other councillors to agree, and that stopped the proposal.

I launched this challenge specifically to ensure that the neighbourhood forum’s hard work – including championing a Community Land Trust to take the lead in the area – would be integrated into any development plans.

Although Covid-19 has delayed the local referendum required to formally adopt the neighbourhood plan, just delaying it a few months meant that it passed its independent examination and must now be given significant weight in local planning decisions. I am delighted that means a CLT will get a look-in.

We have seen time and again that innovative delivery models – including but not limited to CLTs – can deliver homes more affordably and accessibly than grander schemes.

I wholeheartedly endorse what Camley Street’s neighbourhood forum wants to do at Camley Street. Well done to the CNJ for asking that question and banging that drum.

CLLR OLIVER COOPER
Leader, Camden Conservatives