RURAL and market towns could qualify for support from a new urban fund for Community Land Trusts.

Applications are open to the Urban CLT Project following a bidding process opened by the National CLT Network.

The programme of funding, training, resources and advocacy has been launched to scale up the emerging urban Community Land Trust (CLT) movement in England and Wales.

Urban communities are being invited to take part. But some rural towns could also qualify for support if they are settlements with more than 10,000 people.

The National CLT Network is offering 20 demonstration urban CLTs grants of up to £10,000 to help them develop their projects.

In addition, urban CLTs will be invited to take part in a two year programme of events and training, online peer networking and resource-banking to build up the know-how for success.

Behind the scenes, the Network will be taking the lessons from the demonstration CLTs to campaign and lobby for the issues common to urban CLTs.

Funding will be available to address costs such as legal fees, support with political negotiations and finding a development partner, community engagement and business planning.

Applications to this year's grants programme are open until midnight on Sunday 7 September.

For full details, click here or call 020 3764 1840.