On Saturday 20th September, Stocksfield Community Association Trading Arm (SCATA) and Karbon Homes came together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a proud milestone in rural community development – winning the National Housing Federation’s “Best Partnership” Award in 2015.
The award recognised a landmark project that delivered seven new affordable homes in Stocksfield, a development hailed at the time as a blueprint for successful community-led housing in rural Northumberland.
To mark the occasion, SCATA hosted a special event attended by a wide range of partners and supporters, including local MP Joe Morris, who not only joined the celebration but also presented a £500 donation to support local community groups.
The event brought together many of those involved in the original scheme, including former SCATA trustees, representatives from the Isos Housing (now Karbon Homes) development team, and key stakeholders such as Bill Carr (formerly of Homes England), Andy Dean from CAN, Northumberland County Councillor Anne Dale, and Victoria Keen, Marie Lodge, and others from Karbon Homes.
Vince Walsh, now Northumberland’s Rural Housing Enabler, and Communities CAN Director, but part of the original development team, reflected on the project’s legacy:
“This scheme was a flagship development for showcasing the delivery of community-led housing in Northumberland. It was a real challenge, with complex land ownership and legal hurdles, but thanks to the tenacity of SCATA’s Directors, particularly Norman Hooks and Pete Duncan, and a strong partnership with Isos Housing, we made it happen. It’s a shining example of what’s possible through partnership working – a project that unlocked much-needed rural affordable housing and gained national recognition.”
As we continue to champion community-led housing across the North East, this anniversary reminds us of the power of local leadership, collaboration, and long-term commitment to delivering homes that meet the needs of rural communities.
