<p><span>Aster Group is due to complete </span><span>39</span><span> new homes through community land trust projects (CLTs) by early next year, with the housing association heralding community-led schemes as a “vital component” to supporting the UK’s recovery.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>The three CLT projects – schemes established by local people to build and manage housing developments in their areas – are in Devon, Dorset and Gloucestershire. For each, Aster is handing over between six and 23 homes for affordable rent and shared ownership.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Aster said that community led projects were key to the recovery of communities. It explained that with CLTs retaining the freehold interest in each property, the housing “is </span><span>permanently affordable, benefitting communities today and in generations to come”.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>The housing association’s next completions in Eastington, Bishop’s Caundle and Chagford will increase its CLT portfolio to almost 150 homes across 13 schemes in the south of England.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Aster, which offers a range of different housing options, has in recent years “invested heavily” in community projects. It plans to invest £2 billion over seven years on 10,400 new homes.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Amanda Williams, Aster’s group development director, said: “The housing crisis has always been at the top of the national agenda but the issue has been …