Page 6 - Land Trust Annual Review 2023

The Land Trust

Delivering Economic and Social Value
In order to measure the impact of our work, we use an Economic and Social Value
Model developed in partnership with AMION Consulting. The model provides
evidence based, measurable indicators of the benefits of well-managed green
space for communities and helps us demonstrate the charitable impact that we
deliver. For more details on the model, please see page 09.

• In social value terms, across our whole portfolio we have saved the public purse
in the region of £2.2m in the 2022/23 year with approximately £1.3m of this in
health savings.
• An increase in educational activity on our sites has generated almost half a
million pounds of economic value, while we have generated close to £1.7m
tourism GVA to the local economies around out sites.
• Across our whole portfolio we generated an estimated £17.6m GVA, which is an
increase of 50% on the year before.
We are delighted to report there has been significant increases against all of our
charitable aims in 2022/23.
Plans for Future Periods
A new 5-year business plan was approved by the Board in March 2023. The
overarching strategic imperatives for the duration of this business plan are all
focussed on delivering increased charitable outcomes and social value and are to
deliver great customer, resident and client experiences, deliver great experiences
for our people, develop a sustainable quality service charge model and reduce our
General Fund total operating deficit by 50%.
We will also be exploring additional opportunities within the emerging Biodiversity
Net Gain (BNG) market, as new mandatory legislation comes into place in January
2024. This will be alongside our continued focus on delivering increased charitable
outcomes by growing our portfolio of sites.
In addition, we are currently working on an Emerging Customer Commitment
which will differentiate the Land Trust from other service charge organisations, and
also hold us to account on delivering a best-in-class service to residents living on
the sites we manage.

Grants
A total of £1,056k was raised through fundraising activities in 2022/23, with a
number of projects underway across Land Trust sites this year thanks to grants
and other charitable donations. These include a grant of £185k from Barnsley
Council for Phoenix Park, the first instalment of a three-year grant for £882k. This
grant scheme is part of a £23 million investment to regenerate and revitalise
communities in and around Barnsley through the Government’s Towns Fund Deal.
The Land Trust’s project will help enhance the park’s appeal as a destination and
thoroughfare between several deprived communities. It will also help the park
achieve its potential to support small scale local enterprise and deliver a greater
level of organised community activity through the creation of a new visitor hub and
café; more play facilities; improved car parking and access.

A grant of £150k from the Environment Agency’s Water Environment Investment
Fund (WEIF) has allowed us to work with other partners across Chester and
Cheshire West to develop a detailed plan and design for a major wetland creation
project that will lead to improved water quality and create new habitats for a wide
range of species.

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