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Land Restoration Trust
Background
Created by a partnership comprising English Partnerships, Groundwork, the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency, and officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, in April 2004. The Land Restoration Trust is improving the environment and the quality of life for communities by tackling enduring post-industrial dereliction across England. The Trust is also working to ensure that new developments include spaces that can be; used effectively, maintained appropriately and contribute to the sustainability of the community.
Endorsed by the Government in its Sustainable Communities Plan, the Trust acquires land that is not considered to have any economic value and works with local management partners to create new sustainable "green amenities" providing social, economic and environmental benefits for both people and nature.
Current Status
Currently the Land Restoration Trust owns sixteen sites, which are managed at a community level by local agents, with the handover of several more imminent.
The Trust’s current portfolio includes a diverse range of sites including restored brownfield, greenfield, former agricultural land, play areas, urban spaces/parks and packages of landscaped areas. This is real hard evidence that the Trust’s approach is successful well beyond just ‘restoration’ projects.
The Trust is also involved in around 200 sites around the country. Many of these are from English Partnerships’ National Coalfields Programme however the LRT are also working with the private sector on a number of projects. Furthermore the Trust is working with partners in the Thames Gateway and within the designated Pathfinder areas to increase the social and economic profile of the areas through the creation of public space, complementing local and regional regeneration initiatives.
The Trust continues to promote and maintain a strategic approach to the regeneration of derelict, neglected or under-used land and throughout all its projects will champion the following core principles:
- Sustainability: of design, implementation and long-term maintenance.
- Engagement: projects will engage and involve all sections of the community.
- Subsidiarity: there will be local delivery where possible.
- Ecology: the local ecology will guide the approach to reclamation.
- Quality: design solutions will be high quality.
- Innovation: there will be a commitment to innovate and test new approaches.
- Value: there will be a "best-value" approach to procurement.
- Standards: the highest standards of financial accountability will apply.
- Commitment: there will be a strong emphasis on delivery to timescales.
A short brochure on the Land Restoration Trust is available for download from the Publications page.
