Guessburn Community Housing Project in the Spotlight

The Guessburn development was among a number of different housing schemes chosen by Karbon Homes to showcase to County Cllrs interested in learning more about the company and its work.

Around 17 Cllrs joined hosts from Karbon,  which included Chief Executive Paul Fiddaman, as they toured the area. First stop was the SCATA Community Housing Project in Guessburn with Vince Walsh, Development Manager at Karbon, giving a guided tour and brief history of the project.

Chair of SCATA Pete Duncan commented: "I'm delighted that Karbon chose to visit our  scheme which provided the first new homes to be built for affordable rent in Stocksfield for 25 years."

Community Housing Scheme Scoops Top Housing Award

Our development of new community owned homes in Stocksfield, Northumberland has won nationwide acclaim, after picking up a National Housing Award for Best Partnership.

The six homes on Guessburn and one on New Ridley Road in Stocksfield were developed in partnership with Isos on behalf of the local community.

Pete Duncan, chair of SCATA, said: “Everyone involved with SCATA is absolutely delighted that four years of voluntary effort has been recognised by this important National Housing Award.

“Community Land Trusts and other forms of community-led housing make a really big difference to people’s lives. There need to be more of them.”

Vince Walsh, development and regeneration manager for Isos, who managed the building of the homes, said: “We’re so delighted that our partnership with SCATA has been chosen for this award, and what that says about the importance of building affordable homes in rural communities.

“We hope this will encourage more communities to come together to build their own homes.”

SCATA’s five directors attended the glittering award ceremony in London, receiving the award from comedian and TV personality Marcus Brigstocke.

Residents move into new community owned bungalow
26 August 2015

The final bungalow in a development of new homes built for a Community Land Trust in rural Tynedale is now complete, and residents have moved in.

The bungalow on New Ridley Road in Stocksfield has been developed by Isos Housing on behalf of the Stocksfield Community Association Trading Arm (SCATA).

This home adds to the six completed by Isos and SCATA on a site next to the tennis club on Guessburn in the village earlier this year.

Together, the seven homes represent the first affordable homes built in Stocksfield for decades, built by main contractor Duncan Clark at a cost of £850,000.

The scheme has benefited from £364,000 of government funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The new residents are Elaine and Leslie Wilson who have moved just a short distance from a private rented flat in the village, having previously lived in nearby Ovingham.

Elaine, 75, said: “We came to Stocksfield from Ovingham four years ago. Our son has lived in the village for 12 years with his wife and two sons.

“We were delighted to be given this opportunity. I’ve been in ill health, so it’s great to now be living on one floor in a bungalow, close to the centre of things, and it’s all downhill to my son’s house.

“Because the bungalow is all ground floor, it’s easy for maintenance, and perfect for older people. The builders have done a fantastic job – it’s deceptively spacious when you get inside.”

SCATA formed a Community Land Trust to develop new homes in Stocksfield, which ensures the homes will remain owned by the people of Stocksfield for generations to come.

A local lettings policy applies to the development to ensure that those people with a clear connection with the village are given priority for letting the homes.

All the high quality new homes have all been built on previously developed sites, helping to minimise their environmental impact and protect the green belt.  

SCATA chairman Pete Duncan said: “Villages like Stocksfield have a hard time trying to meet the housing needs. Older people are often forced to move away from friends and relatives because there is no suitable accommodation available for them locally.

“So what we have achieved with the Branch End Cottage, in addition to the Guessburn homes is really important.

“If Stocksfield can do this, many other communities across the country can do it too.”

Vince Walsh, development and regeneration manager for Isos Housing, said: “It’s been a really rewarding project to be involved with, to bring forward these homes for SCATA.

“There are so many villages across the North East which could benefit from this model of developing affordable homes, and Stocksfield is lucky to have such committed people as the SCATA directors, to make this project happen.”

Guessburn shortlisted for major award
8 July 2015

The new SCATA homes developed on Guessburn in Stocksfield have just been shortlisted for a very prestigious, national awards scheme.

The development of 6 community-owned affordable rented homes in Stocksfield, Northumberland is being considered for the Best Partnership prize at the National Housing Awards, run by the National Housing Federation. 

The pioneering partnership project between local community business SCATA and social housing provider Isos saw the construction of two new bungalows and four flats at Guessburn in the village.

The development has been built on land owned by SCATA, through a Community Land Trust, which means the homes will remain owned by the people of Stocksfield for generations to come.

A local lettings policy applies to the development to ensure that those people with a clear connection with the village are given priority for letting the homes.

The £900,000 development was supported by grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

SCATA director Norman Hooks said: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for this award. The scheme was always about providing affordable homes for our community, but we hope it will also act as a beacon to other villages like ours, to show that they too can deliver projects like this.

“As our chairman Pete Duncan has said before, with a bit of imagination and a lot of determination, a community like ours can lead the way on providing high quality affordable rented homes.”

Vince Walsh, development manager for Isos, said: “Getting a project like this built is never easy, with so many stakeholders to consider, so it’s entirely appropriate that this scheme should be considered for the Best Partnership Award. We’re so proud of what’s been achieved in Stocksfield – and the message it sends about the importance of affordable homes for rural communities.

Community Art Project Takes Pride of Place

A beautifully carved bench created with the help of local school children was unveiled to the public.

The bench, a product of a community art project organised by SCATA and funded by Isos Housing was inspired by the ideas of children from Broomley First School working with local artist Niki Black.

Depicting aspects of the animal life found in and around Stocksfield Burn, it was created from part of a local fallen oak tree that was carved by Northumberland-based sculptor Luca Serra.

SCATA would like to thank builders N. B. Clark (Morpeth) Ltd and Tom  Richardson of Wheelbirks for their help and support without which this project would not have been possible.  We hope it will be appreciated by the residents of Stocksfield for many years to come.

Alan Milburn Opens Stocksfield's Pioneering New Homes
1 May 2015

Former cabinet minister Alan Milburn has officially opened a development of community-owned affordable rented homes in Stocksfield, Northumberland.

The pioneering partnership project between local community business SCATA and social housing provider Isos Housing has seen the construction of two new bungalows and four flats at Guessburn in the village.

The development has been built on land owned by SCATA, through a Community Land Trust, which means the homes will remain owned by the people of Stocksfield for generations to come.

A local lettings policy applies to the development to ensure that those people with a clear connection with the village are given priority for letting the homes.

Mr Milburn planted a tree to mark the opening alongside Isos chief executive Keith Loraine and SCATA director Pete Duncan.

The £900,000 development has been supported by grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

An additional bungalow on New Ridley Road is due for completion in mid-June.

All the high quality new homes have been built on previously developed site, helping to minimise their environmental impact and protect the green belt.

SCATA Chair Pete Duncan said: "Villages like Stocksfield have a hard time trying to meet the housing needs of young people who cannot afford to get on the first rung of the home ownership ladder.

"Suitable sites are few, houses and land prices are high and there is often strong community resistance to development. Older people too are often forced to move away from friends and relatives because there is no suitable accommodation available for then locally.

"So what we have achieved through SCATA is important. It shows that, with a bit of imagination and a lot of determination, a community like ours can lead the way on providing high quality affordable rented homes.

"If we can do it here, many other communities across Northumberland and beyond can do it too. In so many places, small-scale development to meet important local needs simply won't happen unless communities take the initiative themselves. We hope they will."

Alan Milburn said: " Homes like these are built with the the intention that they are here for perpetuity, for successive generations of residents in this village. And these homes are the first to be built in Stocksfield for 25 years.

"In a rural environment where it can be difficult for people to get on the ladders of opportunity, for jobs, for transport and housing, this scheme is a great antidote to that."

Keith Loraine added: A massive part of our work at Isos is to help communities develop. As has been said before - it's not just building bricks and mortar, it's about bricks and mortals.

"This SCATA scheme is especially important now, at a time when housing as a sector is in crisis within a generation."

One of the new residents at Guessburn is Lynn Fothergill, 39, who is moving into a ground floor flat with her partner Simon Bagley and their 18 month old son Joe.

Lyn, who uses a wheelchair, said moving to Guessburn would transform her family's life. They previously lived with her mother in Prudhoes.

She said: "It will change our life. It will be a new beginning for us. It's nice that there will just the three of us together as a family.

"To have an affordable home in a village where there is a train station, so we can get along to Prudhoe or to the Metro Centre, will make a huge difference.

A piece of community artwork created with the help of children from Broomley First School is to be unveiled next to the housing scheme in the coming weeks.