About Us
As the demand for houses in rural areas has grown, house prices and rents have been driven upwards. This, coupled with the loss of council housing through the Right to Buy, has left many of the County’s villages without any housing which is affordable to local people on low or moderate incomes.
Without a balance in the types of housing, rural communities become unsustainable and lose their vitality. They may become dormitory settlements for commuters or be left with an ageing population with no younger people to carry on the community life of the village.
Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association works closely with communities to solve village housing problems. Such local partnerships are seen as vital to success. The first link is usually with the Parish Council as local knowledge is invaluable, not only in identifying the particular needs of the village, but also in finding the best way to provide housing if it is required.
Because every village is different, we always make sure we are fully aware of local needs when planning a new development. By working closely with local communities we ensure the homes we provide meet the requirements of the village, and complement existing buildings.
Full consultation and cooperation are essential if we are to have the trust and confidence of the communities we serve.
Our schemes are frequently built on ‘exception sites’ – land which would not normally receive planning consent. The planning agreements we draw up with landowners and the Local Authority ensure that our homes are only let to people who can demonstrate that they have strong links with the area.
NRHA is a Registered Social Landlord with the Housing Corporation. They also provide funding towards the homes we provide. We also work closely with local authorities in the County who support our aims and principles and enable us to progress our projects.
We welcome approaches from individuals, parish councils, landowners, local authorities and other housing associations who recognise the need for village housing and are willing to work with us to achieve our aims.