AN Eden village’s many innovative and grassroot projects were applauded by a Government minister who praised the “ambition and tenacity” of residents.

Minister for civil society Nick Hurd paid a whistle-stop visit to Crosby Ravensworth where he was shown a former stoneworks site which is in the process of being acquired for an affordable housing development by the Lyvennet Community Trust.

The Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, was also shown the Butcher’s Arms pub, bought in April this year by villagers as a co-operative, and was told about plans for an anaerobic digester to provide the village with its own electricity supply.

Speaking with Mr Hurd, David Graham, chairman of the Lyvennet Trust, said housing was key to the future of the village.

“The land at the stoneworks is an eyesore. We could use this land for housing. We have started a detailed business plan and financial model and have started the process to become a registered developer of social housing. Without the housing for young families the school will suffer, we can see that and we’re about getting things done.”

Commenting on what he had seen Mr Hurd said: “I am here really to see what is Big Society in action, ambitious and tenacious villagers standing up and saying: ‘We will do this ourselves’. We are here to support that and to learn and to ask what we can do to help.”

When asked if affordable housing should be something provided by the state rather than community groups like the Lyvennet Trust, Mr Hurd said housing developments in the past had often been built against the will of the community.

“What I like about this is that it’s home grown. There’s a way of doing things where the village leads and the state supports it. We know where we want to go to which is a place where communities feel that they are shaping their futures.”

Annie Kindleysides, Convenor of Crosby Ravensworth Community Planning Groups, said she welcomed such a high powered group to demonstrate what a community can do when it works together.

But she feared the recent budget cuts would hinder funding for the village’s projects.