About Us

SCH is a Community Land Trust incorporated as a Community Benefit Society with exempt charitable status.

We are local residents who are passionate about meeting the need for genuinely affordable homes for local residents and key workers, who otherwise would be unable to live in Swanage.

We are currently working with Dorset Council and Swanage Town Council to secure appropriate and available land which is feasible for an affordable housing development.  This may involve partnering with external parties such as Housing (Providers) Associations, or building our own housing – watch this space!

Meet our trustees:

Robin Sutcliffe – Chair:

Businessman with experience of voluntary sector arts & housing.

Gary Richardson

Gary’s professional background is as a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, and Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers. Since 1990 he has however, held a number of significant Director roles in Local Government and as an advisor to the Public Sector.

David Richards:

Formerly a Church of England Vicar in Stratford, East London, now Associate Priest at St Mark’s Herston.

Dr Claire Barnes:

A work Psychologist and visiting Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London.

Sarah Vile:

A sexual violence response Trainer, previously Director of international recruitment firm.

D Mark Carey:

Architect living in Swanage and director of an award-winning private practice based in Wareham. 

Simeon Rudin:

A former Finance Lawyer in the City for nearly 40 years, working in international law firms.

“it is hard to argue that housing is not a fundamental human need. Decent, affordable housing should be a basic right for everybody in this country. The reason is simple: without stable shelter, everything else falls apart.”
― Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City