Wild Peak

Wild Peak Housing Co-op is one of the most interesting and ambitious projects around, seeking to develop an eco-hamlet in the Peak District National Park. They have spent some time studying the local plan for ways in, and have concluded that if they could buy a smallholding with plenty of outbuildings they could get permission for small business units and additional housing. Their plan is to buy at auction, with ten prospective residents willing to pay rent in anticipation of being housed. The big questions are, will the main lender be prepared to put their money in with in the absence of full planning permission, and will they be able to finance and project manage the conversions? They do at least have the backing of Radical Routes, which urgently needs to make loans for new housing.