Image of the town of IlfracombeWe want to create beautiful spaces, places and homes for Ilfracombe

The purpose of Ilfracombe Community Land Trust is to create affordable, secure homes for local people to rent with confidence. These become locally owned assets that can serve the Ilfracombe community for good.

We are a community-led group composed of local individuals.

In contrast to a property developer a Community Land Trust is a non-profit organisation run by local people to benefit the community they are part of.

You can play a role

Community Land Trusts depend on local individuals and groups getting involved and lending their opinions, skills and abilities – and everyone’s voice matters.

Ruth Downie

Ruth Downie 18 April 1955 - 25 October 2026

ICLT were saddened to hear of the death of one of our founding members, Ruth Downie.

Ruth was part of the Land Trust from its very beginning and was dedicated to improving the housing situation for the people of Ilfracombe.

She quickly became a Board member and brought her particular skills to the Land Trust, including scrutinising documents and policies.

She penned many of our newsletters and website content, and made invaluable, insightful contributions throughout the Bicclescombe Nursery project.

She will be greatly missed by the ICLT, and the Board extends its condolences to her husband, Andy, and her family and friends.

Bicclescombe Nursery Development

Building work on the 16 new Ifracombe CLT homes is now well underway.
To find out more, follow the links to the right and our News stories.

Latest News

  • A celebration of partnership working.

    A photograph showing the meeting of partners in the Bicclescombe project.A meeting of partners on the Bicclescombe site.

    Summer saw substantial progress at the Bicclescombe Nursery site with builders Poltaire busy laying foundations for the first of 16 units of social housing, writes ICLT chair Mark Read. It wasn't long before timber frames and walls followed, transforming the once empty plot into the beginnings of a cul-de-sac of homes for local Ilfracombe families. 

    Read more: A celebration of partnership working.

  • An Eye Opener

    Building work in progress at the Bicclescombe site. A phiotograph of the front of one of the new blocks, surrounded by scaffolding.Building work in progress at the Bicclescombe site.

    Mark Read, Chair of the Ilfracombe Community Land Trust, writes:” My monthly visits to our Bicclescombe Nursery Project are always an eye-opening experience; whether it be the technology our contractors are employing to work effectively and efficiently, or the depth and breadth of detail that is covered in our site progress meeting.

    My last visit yielded a more literal eye-opening moment as I stood on top of the scaffolding by an almost completed roof, at the opening for a window, looking down the valley to the ocean, thinking to myself – “this will be someone’s view”.

    Read more: An Eye Opener