Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) were today celebrating their role in Parwich Action Group’s School House Development, which has just won the prize of Best Community-led Initiative in the UK Housing Awards.

The award was given to Parwich for its bid to provide three family-sized houses for rent on the site of an old school house to ensure affordable housing for the small Peak District communty . It is a pioneering project for a rural community which has seen a dramatic rise in houses bought for retirement, second homes,and holiday lets putting property outside the reach of local young people. Affordable rented housing in Parwich has all but disappeared due to right to buy.

Four years ago the community decided to act, and encouraged by the Peak District National Park Authority, went into negotiations with local councils before selecting NCHA as its preferred partner. The total cost of the scheme to buy the land and build the 3-bed houses is £438,000 which has been funded by NCHA and a Housing Corporation grant.

The cost is high due to the exacting specifications set by the national park authority but it means the houses, which will be faced with stone from local quarries, will be in keeping with the rest of the village. However, the village thinks this is a small price to pay. Local dairy farmer and action group member Fiona Hadfield says “We are convinced that community-led housing schemes are the way forward for villages like ours, to provide affordable homes and guarantee life for the village.” The houses should be ready around February next year.