Community Focus Group June 2026

On Monday evening, we hosted a focus group at Chilbolton Village Hall with people who could potentially become future residents of the community homes we hope to build in the village.

Following a flyer drop, door-knocking campaign and emails, we were delighted to welcome a fantastic group of local people who generously gave up a couple of hours of their evening to share their thoughts. Alongside Maureen and Councillor Drew, who kindly sponsored and supported the event, we spent two hours discussing the purpose of the Chilbolton Community Land Trust, what had motivated people to attend, what they would hope to see from community housing, and any priorities or concerns they wanted to raise.

The evening exceeded all our expectations. The level of engagement was outstanding, with open, thoughtful conversations throughout. It reinforced just how much people care about the future of our village.

What struck me most was hearing from people with deep, long-standing connections to Chilbolton—some stretching back generations—who are passionate about keeping the village thriving and ensuring local people have the opportunity to continue living here.

With so few homes becoming available, house prices beyond the reach of many local families, and affordable rental properties in extremely short supply, the need for community-led housing has never been clearer.

I left the evening feeling genuinely inspired. Events like this remind us why the Trust exists and strengthen our determination to deliver community homes that will benefit Chilbolton, not just for today, but for generations to come.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, shared their experiences and helped shape the next stage of our journey. Your voices will play an important part in creating homes that truly meet the needs of our community.