ANOTHER step of a first-of-its-kind community-led housing scheme has taken place.

In 2019, Corbridge Parish Council agreed a funding package for the purchase of three affordable houses and one bungalow on the Miller Homes development on Milkwell Lane.

And at the latest meeting of Corbridge Parish Council (September 22), councillors signed the transfer of one of the plots.

The parish council secured a grant from Northumberland County Council and acquired a loan approval from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to purchase the houses.

The remainder of the cost for the scheme is being made up from a low interest loan, and all money from the rental of the properties will go into the parish council’s coffers once that loan is fully repaid.

There will be three semi-detached two-bedroom houses, and one detached two-bedroom bungalow.

The parish council will rent them out to local people at a low rate.

Nick Oliver, County Councillor for Corbridge, said it gives people who have grown up in the village the opportunity to continue living there by providing more affordable housing units.

The houses are scheduled to be completed by March 2022.

It is believed this scheme is the first of its kind in the UK which involves a town or parish council providing community-led housing.