Page 4 - Annual Report 2014/15

Chairman’s Report

The Land Trust is a charity that is committed to acquiring and managing green space for the beneft of
communities. 2014/15 has seen a continued increase in the land under our management, and our parks
and open spaces have allowed us to deliver even more to support our charitable objectives.
In line with our 10 Year Strategy, our business Continued favourable income yield on our On behalf of the Trustees, I would like to thank
model has continued to evolve. Whilst we investments; 4.6% in 2014/15 (vs 4.6% him most warmly for his contribution to the
acquired a number of sites from our traditional 2013/14) enabled us to manage the sites development of the charity over the past
public sector sources, the economic recovery sustainably to achieve our charitable outcomes four years.
has brought increased interest from the and to fund future improvements.
development and house building sectors,
particularly in the south of England. A number We have strengthened our staff to support The Land Trust
the existing Land Trust team as our activities
of large scale projects have progressed
these and other changes brought a short term has had a really
to detailed negotiations and many new grow to deliver the 10 Year Strategy. Although
opportunities with strategic landowners have
been identifed. Due to the scale of these increase in the level of Working Capital utilised good year and
this year; £0.84 m (vs £0.76 m 2013/14), the
developments and the number of houses
being built, sites may take a number of years Board remains confdent that the Strategy will it is encouraging
deliver long-term sustainability.
to transfer fully and beneft local communities,
but it is important that we harness the The Land Trust’s Working Capital position was that our approach
opportunities as they emerge. strengthened by the receipt of £1.9 m following
our successful application to the Homes and to sustainably
Communities Agency for the fnal tranche of
The economic the Disengagement Grant. This helps underpin managing
recovery has our move towards long term sustainability, green space is
supported by our very active and varied
brought increased pipeline of potential new sites. increasingly being
Our sites under management continue to deliver
interest from the benefts to our communities. Work on a number recognised and
of sites acquired over recent years reached
development fruition, with three sites (Canvey Wick in Essex, implemented.
Countess of Chester Country Park in Cheshire
and house and Port Sunlight River Park in Wirral) being
opened in the year. In addition, work with our
building sectors. partner Grainger plc. at Wellesley Woodlands, Given the results identifed in this Report, the
as part of their major development at Aldershot,
has made excellent progress. Further details of Board is optimistic about the implementation
the achievement of our charitable objectives are of the 10 Year Strategy, its future opportunities
These opportunities will lead to a progressive detailed in the Chief Executive’s Report and can and the sustainability of the Land Trust. The
change in the mix of sites we are acquiring, be found on pages 7 to 17 or on our website Land Trust has had a really good year and it is
from reclaimed former industrial sites towards www.thelandtrust.org.uk encouraging that our approach to sustainably
the management of green spaces associated managing green space is increasingly being
with development. Our role in delivering We have seen a number of changes to our recognised and implemented. On behalf of
sustainable green infrastructure and integrating Board of Trustees over the year. John Handley, the Trustees, I would like to thank all our staff
green space into the built environment Christina McComb and Michael Rich all stood and everyone who has worked with the Land
contributes to securing not only more housing, down. John was a driving force in supporting Trust and helped us to achieve our charitable
but better quality environments and better the creation of the Land Trust a decade ago; outcomes over the last year.
places for people to live. we thank him for that, and Christina and
Michael for their contribution. We welcomed
This year we further increased our portfolio by William Hiscocks who, with over 30 years
adding 211 ha across seven sites. This brings working in the fnancial sector, became Chair
our portfolio under management to 1,645 of the Investment Committee; Sarah Whitney,
hectares (plus 454 ha of Newlands Revive and who brings fnancial and property expertise;
Restore Programme sites that we manage). and Ian Piper, Head of Land at the Homes
Post year end a further 6.4 ha were added. and Communities Agency. Their contribution Peter Smith
and commitment is very much appreciated.
The funds received with these acquisitions, Our Director of Operations, Matthew Bradbury Chairman
along with healthy growth in market values,
increased the value of our endowments and announced his intention to leave in the
summer of 2015 to take the role of Chief
by the year end, the investment portfolio grew
to over £112 m (vs £101 m in 2013/14). Executive at Nene Park Trust, in Peterborough.

Annual Report / the Land Trust 2015 4