Labour and Tories outline plans for affordable housing ahead of Northumberland election

Voters will head to the polls on May 1 to decide who will lead the county council for the next four years.

Labour say they will build 2,500 affordable homes as well as a further 1,000 for social rent over the next four years.

The Conservatives did not give an exact figure, but pointed to the fact they had built more than 2,300 affordable homes since 2017. The Tories did not say whether they would build more social housing.

Labour leader Scott Dickinson said: “Under this Tory-run council, local people who need housing have been let down. Thousands of houses have been approved, but local communities cannot afford them.

“We believe that no-one should have to live in substandard accommodation and are committing to work with the government to deliver 1,000 new affordable homes if elected.

“We’ll also aim to save money by reducing the reliance on temporary housing and to promote real growth in construction across Northumberland, where communities need adequate housing.”

Asked how the local authority would be able to afford to build new council houses, Coun Dickinson pointed out that the chancellor has announced a £2billion fund to build up to 18,000 social and affordable homes across the country. Local authorities are able to bid for the funding.

He continued: “The Government are willing and able to put money into Northumberland to tackle the housing crisis that we have got. We will also work with social landlords to deliver on the growth goals.

“People are happy at the thought of getting council and social rented properties in Northumberland. We spend millions on temporary accommodation in unsuitable places.”

Responding to Labour’s plan, Conservative council leader Coun Glen Sanderson said he was proud of his council’s record on affordable housing. Between 2017 and 2025, the council has seen 2,337 affordable houses built while a further 965 have planning permission.

He said: “We will do the same again. We kept our promise in 2021 that we would build affordable homes and we exceeded our target.

“I think Labour look upon what we have achieved with some degree of envy. Clearly they want to ride on the back of our success.”

“We will build more again using our recently reorganised Advance Northumberland. The company’s job will be to build affordable and sheltered housing.

“That is why I wanted to get that important legislation through before the election, so we had Advance set up and geared up to build the same again – if not more – over the next four years to meet the demand we know is there. We remain dedicated to continuing the significant focus that we have had on building affordable homes with our partners.”

As of January, there were around 14,000 people waiting for social housing in Northumberland. The county council has controversial plans to remove some 8,400 people in Band 3, who are assessed as having no identified housing need – something Labour is opposed to.