In 2008 an official definition of Community Land Trusts was laid out in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, Part 2, Chapter 1, Clause 79. This says that a Community Land Trust is a corporate body which:

1) is established for the express purpose of furthering the social, economic and environmental interests of a local community by acquiring and managing land and other assets in order:

– to provide a benefit to the local community

– to ensure that the assets are not sold or developed except in a manner which the trust’s members think benefits the local community

2) is established under arrangements which are expressly designed to ensure that:

– any profits from its activities will be used to benefit the local community (without by being paid directly to members)

– individuals who live or work in the specified area have the opportunity to become members of the trust (whether or not others can also become members)

– the members of a trust control it.