Update On Community Purchases of Land at Albion Crescent

LLRA is pleased to advise the recent completion of two purchases of land offered to it by former landowner CW & A Suthrell Ltd. These consist of:

• Lot 3, covering what can best be described as Albion Crescent Green and nearby verges
• Lot 2b, an area of 450 m² to the east of the Albion Crescent/Albion Close footpath containing mature Hornbeam and Ash trees.

The LLRA Management Committee wishes to thank the thirty local residents who generously contributed funds to assist in the purchase of these lots, enabling them to be held in their current state in perpetuity. The plots are currently held temporarily in trust by LLRA. See below for map showing the locations.

Future Maintenance Plans

As previously communicated during the fundraising, LLRA Management Committee’s preference is to gift these plots to bodies best equipped to handle the long-term maintenance of these areas, without future involvement of LLRA volunteer time or community money. Feedback from those contributing to the fund indicates the same preference.

Currently the intent is to gift lot 3 to Lincolnshire County Council Highways who already have a maintenance liability on this land. The best option available for lot 2b is considered to be Langton Green Management Company (LGMC) who already own adjoining land to the south and west and maintain it as amenity open space.

In both cases, covenants and existing classification of the land will prevent future development or changes to access arrangements. On Lot 3, LLRA has also successfully applied for Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Lot 2b will be maintained as part of the ecological network of Long Leys.

Do You Have An Alternative Maintenance Option?

Prior to the purchases, all those contributing financially to the fund were asked for alternatives to gifting the land to LCC Highways and to LGMC, but none were received. However, now that there are no longer any commercial sensitivities from negotiations with the seller, if any resident has another viable maintenance solution for either Lot 3 or Lot 2b which is cost-free and involves no future liabilities or time for community volunteers then the LLRA Management Committee and those contributing to the fund would be happy to consider it alongside the options above. Please contact LLRA by email (LLRA@long-leys.org) if you wish to have a walk through of the land.

The LLRA Management Committee plan to identify its preferred maintenance options at its 17 January 2023 meeting. These will then be put to fund contributors for final confirmation. See below for more detail.

Map showing Land Acquired By LLRA (Lot 3 + Lot 2b)

Lot 2a has been acquired by a commercial developer, unknown to the LLRA Management Committee. Feedback from the agent handling the sale leads LLRA to believe that the developer wishes to build two bungalows on the space between No 28 and No 32 Albion Crescent. This would require future planning permission to be obtained from the city council along with permission from the county council to divert an element of the existing footpath to run it alongside the hedge of 32 Albion Crescent.

Background to Current Preferred Maintenance Options

On Lot 3, Lincolnshire County Council Highways probably need little introduction. LLRA had unsuccessfully also asked City of Lincoln Council (CoLC) to consider taking on the maintenance of Lot 3. For this and Lot 2b CoLC requires a minimum of 15 years maintenance fees plus 10% upfront.

On Lot 2b LGMC is a micro entity management company with current assets of under £1,000. It exists to maintain an area of public open space that is the shared responsibility of the thirteen homes built by Lindum Homes in their Langton Green development in Long Leys (at the end of the road on Albion Close). This land is adjacent to Lot 2b. See map below for the land managed by LGMC.

For more background detail see also: Fund Raising: £1,500 still needed to protect land between Albion Crescent and Albion Close

Note: Jon Davies, LLRA Secretary has previously declared a minority interest in LGMC to the LLRA Management Committee and also to everyone who contributed personally to the crowdfunding activity. He and his wife have one of thirteen equal shares in LGMC. Shareholding in LGMC is linked to home ownership, cannot be sold separately, and would automatically go to a future owner of any home. LGMC is not a trading company but a vehicle for maintaining the public open space. The LLRA Management Committee considered this a public-spirited act by homeowners involved in LGMC to protect a much used and popular area.

Map Showing Current Land Ownership In Area