Funding secured for research into supported housing needs in Alnwick area

Nearly £7,000 has been secured by the Alnwick Partnership, together with Gallery Youth, from the Government’s Community Housing Fund.

“The research is really to supplement the 2016 housing needs survey which was the latest one done in Alnwick,” explained Coun Alan Waton at a meeting of Alnwick Town Council.

“It will effectively look at the evidence of need for supported housing in young people in the Alnwick area and will look at models of supported housing elsewhere in Northumberland, particularly in Morpeth, Blyth and Berwick, and it will suggest ways forward in terms of meeting any need which is found to exist in the Alnwick area.”

The three month long project will be undertaken by Durham-based consultant Phil Hope but the start date has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mayor Lynda Wearn “I think it’s great. Thanks to Gallery Youth for all the work they’ve done on this.

"I think it will really test the model and the process because after the feasibility study it will go back to the partnership for approval and then go to Alnwick Forum.

"Hopefully that will give it a bit more standing than if it had come straight from an organisation such as Gallery Youth.

“I am really looking forward to seeing how this pans out and am very hopeful it will be the beginning of an effective Alnwick Forum and Partnership and we will see things happening more quickly.”

In 2016, Northumberland County Council was awarded £1.3million from the Government’s Community Housing Fund, which was established to enable community groups to tackle the problem of high levels of second-home ownership and to deliver housing which is genuinely affordable.

It is known as community-led housing, as parish councils or other community groups own and have a long-term role in the management of the properties, which are not subject to Right to Buy and are for rent at affordable rates in perpetuity.

Last year, the county council approved a budget allocation of £1million for community-led housing projects over several years.

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