A community led affordable housing scheme is now underway in Corbridge thanks to a grant from Northumberland County Council. 

Corbridge Parish Council has been awarded £180,000 from Northumberland County Council from its Community Housing Fund, which has enabled it to purchase four affordable homes for local people. 

The affordable housing comprises, three two-bed houses and two bedroomed bungalows on the new Miller Homes development on Milkwell Lane. 

The properties will be rented out to people with a local connection to the area and who are in genuine housing need. 

Northumberland County Councillor, Colin Horncastle, cabinet member with responsibility for housing said: 

“The provision of more affordable housing, in areas of need, continues to be one of the county council's top priorities and we are continuously looking for new and innovative ways of reducing the waiting list. 
 

“This scheme is fantastic because it assists the parish council to  play a leading role in solving local housing problems and increases the number of long-term affordable homes in the community.   

Nick Oliver, County and Parish Councillor in Corbridge added: 

“House prices are high in Corbridge and many local people who grow up here cannot afford to stay. Having been to a presentation on Community Housing I met with Miller Homes back in 2018 and raised the prospect of our Parish purchasing these houses. The excellent technical support and the grant from the County Council helped make this innovative project a reality, and with our local lettings policy we are acting to help meet these Corbridge needs. When the modest loans are repaid the Parish will have another income stream to reinvest in the local community”. 

The properties are nearing completion and will soon be advertised on the Northumberland Homefinder website: www.Northumberlandhomefinder.org.uk as per a local lettings policy for Corbridge. The parish council will be carrying out their own short listing. 
 

The Miller Homes development will also have a further 24 affordable homes available for rent or shared ownership which will make a real difference to so many residents in this village of high affordable housing need.    
 

Northumberland County Council secured an allocation of £1.3m from a national fund, with funding being provided to establish Communities CAN (North East) Ltd.  Together, the council and Communities CAN are working together to help those wishing to set up an affordable housing scheme, as well as contributing towards the delivery of affordable housing projects. 

Community Led Housing Schemes that have benefited from the fund so far include Haltwhistle Partnership, Embleton Parish Council, The Glendale Gateway Trust and Corbridge Parish Council.