Established in 2003 alongside the Wessex Reinvestment Trust, Wessex Community Assets (WCA) is a community benefit society working to expand community ownership of housing, land and local economies.
WCA provides enabling support to community-led housing projects, including both new-build and retrofit schemes. Around 60 projects have received support to date, with WCA helping groups to develop governance structures, secure finance and deliver sustainable homes. In 2007, the organisation also helped pioneer community shares as an innovative finance mechanism, and has since supported the registration of around 150 community benefit societies across sectors such as local food, community energy, workspace and textiles.
“When communities have more control of housing and land, the local economy, natural and built environment and livelihoods are all improved.”
Coordinating the Raise the Roof partnership, WCA promotes innovative construction approaches and the use of natural materials, working with partners including Assemble and the University of Plymouth. In 2024, it collaborated with Dorset Community Energy and People Powered Retrofit to explore a Dorset Retrofit Hub, which is now moving towards delivery.
