Daventry affordable homes protected for local renters

West Northamptonshire Council has agreed to buy 47 homes at the Malabar development in Daventry, keeping them available for affordable rent rather than allowing part of the scheme to move to open-market sale.

The decision was approved by the council’s Cabinet on 9 June 2026. The homes, made up of apartments and maisonettes, will be acquired from developer Crest Nicholson and are intended to support local people facing pressure in the housing market.

Forty-seven homes secured at Malabar

Of the 47 homes, 24 had already been designated as affordable housing through a Section 106 planning agreement. The council said those homes were at risk of being converted for open-market sale after the developer was unable to secure a registered housing provider.

West Northamptonshire Council will also acquire a further 23 homes at the same development, taking the total council purchase to 47 properties.

The homes are expected to meet nationally described space standards and current energy efficiency requirements. Construction is already under way, with the first completions expected in late summer 2027.

What the decision means for housing seekers

The council has said the homes will be for affordable rent, adding to the supply of lower-cost housing options in Daventry. Allocation details, eligibility routes and application timings have not yet been set out in the announcement.

For residents, the immediate change is that homes previously at risk of being sold privately are now being kept within the affordable housing supply. That could matter for people already on housing registers, households priced out of private rent, and families looking for secure accommodation in West Northamptonshire.

The move follows similar council efforts elsewhere to retain or deliver affordable housing, including new affordable council homes in Leeds.

Council housing plan behind the purchase

The Malabar scheme forms part of a wider sustainable urban extension in Daventry. West Northamptonshire Council said the acquisition supports its Affordable Homes Delivery Plan, which aims to increase the number of homes residents can afford.

Cllr Charlie Hastie, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said there was strong and growing demand for affordable housing across West Northamptonshire.

“By acting quickly, we’ve been able to secure these homes and continue delivering on our commitment to provide more high-quality, affordable housing,” he said.

Source: West Northamptonshire Council