Spotlight on Longhoughton: Taking Action on Affordable Housing in Rural Northumberland
22nd Apr 2025
Is your village starting to think about the need for affordable housing? You’re not alone. Across Northumberland, more and more rural communities are beginning to consider how they can play a role in shaping the future of housing in their area.
We recently caught up with Adrian Hinchcliffe, Chair of Longhoughton Parish Council, who shared how his village has been working to tackle the shortage of affordable homes. In our video interview, Adrian talks about the challenges they faced, the steps they took, and the partnerships that helped them make progress.
A pressing need for rural voices
The government’s latest housebuilding targets for Northumberland propose an increase of over 200% in new housing. Without strong rural engagement, there’s a real risk that much of this development will be concentrated in urban areas – or delivered in ways that don’t reflect what our villages actually need.
That’s why now is such an important time for rural communities to get involved. By working together, we can help guide where and how housing is built, making sure it truly benefits local people.
Free support for your community
The great news is that we’ve received further funding from DEFRA for our Rural Housing Enabler post. This means that Vince Walsh is on hand to offer free advice and support to villages looking to develop more affordable housing.
Vince can help with:
- Identifying local housing needs through surveys and community consultation
- Building partnerships between Parish Councils, landowners, Housing Associations, and developers
- Acting as an honest broker to help move projects forward
- Supporting your community every step of the way
Whether your village is just starting to have these conversations, or you’re already exploring options, Vince is here to help.
Get in touch: vincewalsh@ca-north.org.uk
Watch Adrian’s full interview
To hear more about Longhoughton’s journey the full video interview with Adrian is available now on our YouTube channel – packed with insights and tips that could inspire your own village’s next steps.