Our Story

In the early 1980s, steep rises in land value in Oxfordshire had a destructive effect on many rural communities.

In response, Stonesfield Community Trust was founded in 1983. Local activist Tony Croft donated a quarter acre site in the village of Stonesfield for affordable housing for local people in perpetuity.

A seed corn grant of £3,000 from a local company was used to register the trust and negotiate planning permission, which alone increased the value of the donated land from £3,500 to £150,000, enabling the Trust to raise a mortgage and build the first four properties.

The Trust has since borrowed additional funds from the local authority and ethical investors. They have developed a further eleven affordable 1 and 2 bedroom homes on three sites.  All properties have high energy efficiency standards to ensure low running costs. In 2005, the first loans were fully repaid and net income from the properties now provides support to education, sport, and environmental projects in the village.

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The Trust is always looking for new opportunities to provide affordable houses in Stonesfield as there is a significant demand.  If you are a landowner or you own a house and would like to discuss how you can work in partnership with The Trust please contact us.

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