Northumberland County Council's cabinet has approved plans to build sixteen new homes in Cramlington that will be available for rent at just 70% of the market value. While affordable housing is usually designated at 80% of the market rent, the mix of family homes and apartments will be rented out at an extra-cheap cost.
State-of-the-art homes with green features
The properties, which will comprise a mix of 2- and 4-bedroom houses and 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, have been hailed as "state of the art" by the cabinet member for housing. The homes will be energy efficient and feature air source heat pumps, hot water pumps, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.
The houses will be built on brownfield land at Lanercost Park, a housing estate in Cramlington with a mix of houses and apartment blocks dating from the 1960s and 70s. The county council is to develop a site in the middle of the estate which formerly had an old and dated apartment block on it.
Council commitment to local people
Speaking at Tuesday's meeting of the council's cabinet, portfolio holder for housing Coun Colin Horncastle said the development would provide homes for local people. He said: "These properties are state of the art. There's nothing I like better than bringing forward new affordable homes."
"It shows our commitment to the people of Northumberland and providing affordable homes. This is the mix that is most appropriate to local demand, so they should be going to local people. The real positive about these homes is we're offering them at 70% of market value to our tenants. That's a real bargain."
Funding and wider delivery
The cabinet approved a £4.2 million spend on the project. The cash comes from the council itself along with contributions from developers via the planning system and the Brownfield Housing Fund - part of North East Mayor Kim McGuinness' commitment to unlocking more social and affordable homes across the region.
Between 2017 and the end of 2025, a total of 2,044 affordable homes were delivered across the county, built either directly by the council, by housing partners or larger developers - of this figure 678 affordable homes have been built in the last three financial years.
Speaking after the meeting, Coun Horncastle added: "We're delivering pockets of affordable housing where it is needed most - from as far north as Berwick down to Blyth in the south and the rural communities in between - but always guided by our communities to achieve the right type of housing, in the right place at the right price. We know more affordable housing is needed in our rural communities, and we are working to provide this."
The Cramlington Neighbourhood Plan and Housing Needs Assessment highlighted a demand for both larger family homes and smaller one and two-bedroom properties, particularly flats, that can attract younger residents. This is a great scheme that will benefit both single people and growing families while increasing the supply of quality social rented homes within the local area.
