The European Community Land Trust Network is a transnational organisation headquartered in or near Brussels, Belgium, serving as an advocacy and knowledge-sharing platform for community land trusts (CLTs) across Europe. Established in June 2023, following years of collaborative planning by Community Land Trust Brussels, And The People, and Space&Matter, its creation grew from the momentum of the EU-funded SHICC project, which drove a sharp rise in European CLTs from 33 in 2017 to over 350 by 2023.
The Network links more than 300 CLTs located in urban centres such as Brussels, Ghent, Lille, and London, along with dozens of emerging initiatives in countries like Poland and Slovenia. Its membership represents both established projects and new groups seeking support to address land scarcity and housing affordability. Activities centre on enabling information exchange, supporting formation of new CLTs, and engaging policymakers to foster legislative and financial conditions conducive to the CLT model.
Recent examples of its scope include direct support for Belgian and French urban CLTs and capacity building for Eastern European groups. The Network is not a direct developer but facilitates cooperation between residents, NGOs, and municipalities, striving to strengthen the non-speculative housing sector. It maintains an online base but operates across national boundaries. As of its launch, the European Community Land Trust Network acts as the main conduit for collaboration and advocacy among CLTs, representing the largest organised CLT sector outside North America.