Image demonstrating Council pledges multi-million pound investment in affordable housing

Council pledges multi-million pound investment in affordable housing

The Council has allocated £48.2m in its forthcoming budget to help provide more affordable housing in the county, in areas of greatest need. 
 
The multi-million-pound investment plans reaffirm the council’s commitment to help create more quality homes for rent and affordable home ownership. 
 
The funding has been allocated in the Housing Investment Programme and will be used to over the next five years. 
 
Leader of Northumberland County Council, Glen Sanderson said: “We recognise the very real concerns of local residents who are being priced out of the local housing market.  
 
House prices, rents and the cost of living have risen, and it is really difficult for people, especially the young, to get onto the property ladder or to find a home to rent. 
 
This is a problem we are taking very seriously and there is an enormous amount of work going on behind the scenes. These major investment plans reaffirm our commitment and will help to facilitate the building of more new affordable homes.” 
 
Council officers are working in partnership with other housing providers and developers and assisting community led schemes, to support the building of affordable housing
 
It has also put policies in place through the planning system to restrict the use of new build homes as second and holiday homes. 
 
Cabinet member for housing, Colin Horncastle added: “We have a beautiful county which is a great tourist destination, and this is vital for the local economy, for jobs, businesses and services but the abundance of second home ownerships and holiday lets has also impacted on the availability of affordable housing for local people, especially in coastal communities.” 
 
Across the county over the last five years, around 1,300 affordable homes have been secured in the county through the planning process.  
Of these, around 800 were affordable homes for rent, delivered by the council and partner housing association. Around 180 were for shared ownership, and around 320 were available for purchase at a discount.   
 
In addition, there are about 120 affordable homes planned that the council would manage including sites in rural locations. The council is also working on a number of schemes with housing associations which will deliver around 530 affordable homes for rent, shared ownership and rent to buy. 
 
The houses will be mix of sizes to meet local needs, including housing options for the elderly, families and for single people.  In smaller communities, those with a strong connection to the area, will also be given priority under the allocation process. 
View all news