We are committed to providing a range of ways to make housing affordable for local people.
These pages contain a range of information, from work we’re doing to increase the amount of affordable housing, to practical ways of people getting on the housing ladder.
What is affordable housing?
Affordable housing is housing aimed at those who are unable to afford suitable housing on the open market.
The government defines affordable housing as including “social rented” (Council housing or housing association rented housing) or “intermediate housing”, provided to households whose needs are not met by the open market.
Affordable housing can be in the form of low cost rent and intermediate housing, such as New Build Home Buy (also known as Shared Ownership)
Homes are managed by Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) also known as Housing Associations.
To raise awareness of affordable housing, we have produced an information leaflet giving details on how an affordable village housing scheme is developed.
Read the Affordable Housing leaflet .
Click on the links below to find the information you need:
Types of affordable housing
Housing Strategy
Housing Needs Surveys
Housing need research
Housing Associations
Types of affordable housing
Social rented
Usually owned and managed by Councils and RSLs this type of housing is offered to those in housing need from a waiting list at rents below market level. This is the most commonly known about form of affordable housing.
Intermediate
This type of housing is housing at rents and prices above social rented but below market prices and rents. This type of housing includes:
If you are interested in applying for low cost home ownership, you should register for housing with the Council and you should also contact Keyhomes East. They are appointed by Government to provide a "one-stop-shop" for all low cost home ownership schemes that cover Northamptonshire. If you are a key worker, a council or housing association tenant, on a local authority waiting list or first time buyer Keyhomes East can help you to buy a home. You can contact Keyhomes East on 0845 456 6757 or register your interest via the internet at http://www.keyhomes-east.org.uk/
Housing Strategy
The government requires all councils to produce a Housing Strategy. This strategy provides a framework for housing activities and considers issues such as:
The current housing strategy document for South Northamptonshire Council is Housing Strategy 2005 – 2010.
There are 6 key priorities at the heart of the Strategy which aim to:
Should you require further information about the housing strategy please contact the Strategic Housing Team on 01327 322067 or email HousingStrategy@southnorthants.gov.uk
The Strategic Housing Team are responsible for enabling new affordable housing developments.
One of the aims of the Housing Strategy is to increase the supply of affordable housing to meet local need, and South Northamptonshire Council have established a five-year rolling programme to work with Parish Councils’ across the district.
In order to assess the need and supply of affordable housing in the district, the Council assesses villages and measures what housing need is required through a Housing Needs Survey. It is the first step in the process of meeting the affordable housing needs of a rural community.
This survey finds out local residents’ views on an affordable housing development in their area, and what their need for affordable housing is. Surveys are sent to every household in the Parish in order to get an accurate assessment of housing need.
This information is taken into account alongside existing data held on Council records such as turnover of housing and applicants registered for housing on the housing waiting list. This plays an important role in providing the Council with the types and number of properties that the village requires.
Where there is an identified need for affordable housing, and the local community have indicated their support for a small affordable housing scheme, potential sites will be looked at and assessed for suitability.
See what a housing needs survey looks like. To view approved housing needs survey reports please click on the link below for the relevant parish:
Abthorpe Ashton Brafield Blakesley Bradden Bugbrooke Croughton Crowfield Denton Greens Norton Hackleton Harpole Hartwell King's Sutton Kislingbury Middleton Cheney Milton Malsor Nether Heyford Paulerspury Pimlico Potterspury Roade Silverstone Slapton Syresham Wappenham Whitfield Whittlebury Yardley Gobion Yardley Hastings
View our housing needs survey programme 2008. These dates may be subject to change. If you need further information please contact the Strategic Housing Team on 01327 322067 or email HousingStrategy@southnorthants.gov.uk
Housing Market Needs Assessment (2004)
South Northamptonshire Council commissioned an assessment of local housing needs looking at issues such as rising house prices and the impact of growth in the district.
To read the report please click here.
Housing Market Assessment (2007)
The West Northamptonshire Housing Market Assessment was commissioned to help the local authorities of Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire to understand the dynamics and drivers of their housing market.
Undertaking a Strategic Housing Market Assessment (referred to as ‘HMA’) is a key requirement of the Government’s planning for housing policy. In the future, HMAs will form an important part of the evidence base for developing plans and policies and for responding to changing household requirements.
To read the report please click here.
South Northamptonshire Growth Report (2008)
South Northamptonshire falls into the Milton Keynes South Midlands (MKSM) growth area, which is one of four areas identified by the government for economic and population growth.
The Strategic Housing Team completed research relating to affordable housing and planned growth within the district.
To read the report please click here.
Housing Associations are non-profit making organisations, set up to provide affordable housing to people who cannot afford to buy or rent on the open market.
In spring 2008, all Council homes transferred to a new housing association called South Northants Homes. However there are other Housing Associations (RSL'S) that also work within the District. There is a total Housing association stock of 3875 homes in South Northamptonshire. The Council holds nomination rights to the majority of Housing Association accommodation.
To achieve consistency in the quality and standard of affordable housing being managed, we have entered into partnership with the following housing associations to manage all new affordable housing delivered in the future within the District. The six preferred RSL management partners are:
East Midlands Housing Association
Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association
The establishment of preferred RSL management partners will be beneficial to South Northamptonshire in various ways, including:
South Northamptonshire Council can nominate tenants to housing association houses from our housing register. To be considered for one of these homes you need to apply to go on to our housing register.
Find out more about the housing register and how to apply. For more information about housing associations in South Northamptonshire, contact us on 01327 322067 or email HousingStrategy@southnorthants.gov.uk
Building more affordable housing
The Council works with Housing Associations as partners to deliver new affordable housing for rent and shared ownership. We are pleased to have obtained £3.1m Housing Corporation funding to help with these developments for the period 2008-2011.
Completed developments
Housing Need Surveys were undertaken in Blisworth and Nether Heyford in March 2002 and January 2005 respectively. Affordable housing schemes were developed in both these villages based on survey findings. A total of 12 affordable homes were developed in Nether Heyford and 21 affordable homes were developed in Blisworth, for local people. To view a picture of these developments, please click on the following links : Blisworth Nether Heyford
Developments being built
There are a number of developments now taking place across the district. Allocations to all of these schemes are made through South Northamptonshire Council, so if you are interested in joining the waiting list or know someone else who is, please contact Housing Options on 01327 322396 or email housingoptions@southnorthants.gov.uk
Winston Crescent, Brackley - a new development of supported living in Brackley . Winston Crescent, has seven flats and one staff flat and is designed especially for people with learning disabilities. South Northamptonshire Council has been working in partnership with Social Services, Supporting People and Northamptonshire County Council for some time to develop a scheme that would meet the needs of this group of people.
College Place, Brackley - this development of 5 two bedroom flats for rent was completed in October 2008 and the properties have all been allocated to local people. The properties are being managed by Paradigm Housing Association.
Deanshanger : Scheme 1 - a development of sixteen properties completed in summer 2008. There was one 2 bed house and one 3 bed house for rent which have been allocated to local people. Of 3 shared ownership properties built, one is still available. All the properties will be managed by Midsummer Housing Association.
Deanshanger : Scheme 2 - a development of ten properties completed in autumn 2008. There are five 2 bed houses available for rent and four 2 bed houses available for shared ownership, which will be allocated to local people. All the properties will be managed by Midsummer Housing Association.
Deanshanger : Scheme 3 - a completed development, which still has some 3 bed houses available for shared ownership through Aragon Housing Association. For further information please telephone Donna at Aragon on 01525 844460.
Hartwell - a development of sixteen houses recently completed. There were four 2 bed houses, four 3 bed houses and one 4 bed house for rent which have all been allocated to local people. Three 2 bed houses and three 3 bed houses are still available for shared ownership with Midsummer Housing Association. To be eligible for this scheme, applicants must have lived, worked, have relatives living in the village, or be in full time education for a minimum of three years.
Gayton - four properties are due to be completed in March 2009. There will be two 2 bed houses and one 3 bed house for rent. One 3 bed house will be available for shared ownership. To be eligible for this development applicants must have a local connection to Gayton.
Grange Park - there is a further phase of development, comprising twelve 2 bed flats (six for rent and six for shared ownership) which are expected to be available very soon.
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