Addressing affordable housing in Northumberland

In planning terms, ‘affordable housing’ is not simply about being able to buy or rent a home at a cheaper price.

There are specific forms of affordable housing. These are explained in a definition of affordable housing and tenures on GOV.UK.

The affordability of housing is different to the need for affordable housing. It refers to how the cost of housing to buy or rent relates to the average incomes and earnings of households.

House prices in Northumberland average around six times people’s average earnings. This can be higher in more rural areas. As a result, homes in Northumberland are often ‘unaffordable’ to households with an average income. 

The affordability situation impacts on the level of ‘housing need’. Households in housing need are those who are unable to access suitable housing without financial help. For example, by using housing benefit (Universal Credit) or needing subsidised affordable housing.

We aim to secure the best we can for affordable housing through the planning process.

Our priorities for local communities

• improve access to affordable housing
• increase supply
• build the right types of homes in the right places

Policies we use

The statutory development plan is made up of the Northumberland Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans. They encourage delivery of affordable housing by: 

• including policies requiring some new homes on development sites to be affordable.
• supporting exception sites (land not normally used for housing) for wholly or predominantly affordable housing.
• helping secure affordable homes through legal planning obligations. 

People we work with

• housing associations
• community housing groups
• other registered providers of affordable housing

We are also working to enable the delivery of affordable homes ourselves.

We collect information about the needs for different types, sizes and tenures of affordable housing in the county.

• Countywide Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA)
• Local Housing Needs Assessments

You will find these on our studies, evidence, reports and guidance (housing pages). 

This evidence underpins the Northumberland Local Plan and the Northumberland Housing Strategy. It is also key to informing our assessment of planning applications. Developments should provide an appropriate housing mix to help meet identified local needs.