A GROUNDBREAKING community-led housing scheme has taken a step forward.

Corbridge Parish Council held an extraordinary council meeting last week, and agreed a funding package for the purchase of three affordable houses and one bungalow on the Milkwell Lane site, as part of plans from Miller Homes for 185 new houses.

The parish council would purchase the properties from a housing developer and then rent them out to local people at a low rate. Outline planning permission has already been granted for the homes.

The homes would not be under the ‘right to buy’ scheme, but would be owned by the council for the community. To help purchase the properties, Corbridge Parish Council is applying for a low interest loan from the county council.

Nick Oliver, county councillor for Corbridge, said there was a lot of excitement about the scheme.

“This is a significant step in developing this project. We are receiving good support from Northumberland County Council and, from my point of view, it is a very exciting scheme, albeit for only four homes,” he said.

“However, the village will become a model for the rest of the country for more community-led housing.

“For Corbridge, it gives us an opportunity to help people that have grown up in the village stay here by providing affordable housing units.”