A Christian charity says it will act “fairly” and “flexibly” after revealing plans to sell on the open market 35 currently tenanted homes in a Northumberland beauty spot.
Lord Crewe’s Charity, which has existed for 300 years and supports Church of England clergy, maintains religious buildings and tackles poverty locally, announced it will sell the properties around the village of Blanchland over the next decade.
The organisation said in a statement it had taken a “wide-ranging review of its portfolio”, which includes homes at Blanchland, on the Northumberland-County Durham border, and further north on the coast around Seahouses.
Many of the historic properties are listed, which the charity had said added to rising expenses around keeping them maintained and in line with energy performance standards.
‘The best way to optimise our charitable output’
Trustees “have decided the best way for [the organisation] to optimise its charitable output is to gradually release the properties it owns in and around [Blanchland], as and when existing tenancies come to an end”, the charity said in a statement.
The Blanchland parish has 65 homes in total, five of which were already registered as second homes as of 2024, and residents have expressed concerns the property selloff could force people out of the area, which is popular with tourists.
“This will be devastating for residents, some of whom will have been in the property for most of their lives and probably not eligible or able to afford to buy it,” said one local on social media.
Another told Newcastle’s Chronicle there were “serious concerns about the impact on elderly residents and low-income families due to the severe lack of affordable housing in rural Northumberland and Northumberland as a whole”.
They added: “Many fear they will be unable to remain in the area if properties are eventually sold to private buyers, second-home owners or holiday let investors.”
‘Our faith guides us to treat tenants with respect’
Michael Orde, the charity’s clerk, said: “Our faith guides us to treat all our tenants fairly, with dignity and respect.”
Following a public meeting on 5 May, Orde said Lord Crewe’s Charity was “speaking to all tenants individually to understand their concerns and circumstances”, adding that it had received “firm interest” from some in buying their homes.
“We will work with any tenant who isn’t sure what to do or who may be unwilling or unable to buy the house they are renting,” he said. “We are not looking to sell all our properties at once [and] will be as flexible and accommodating as we can with all our tenants.”
Lord Crewe’s Charity recorded a total expenditure of £2.26m, against an income of £1.84m, in its most recent accounts for 2024. It had total funds of £56.5m at the end of that year.
It has over its history sold off other parts of large estates bequeathed to it by Lord Crewe, who was Bishop of Durham between 1674 and his death in 1721.
“Trustees took a decision from the start that we did not want to seek a single new owner for the properties [in Blanchland] because they did not think this would necessarily be in the best interests of the community or the charity,” Mr Orde said.
“They are proud of the charity’s relationship with Blanchland and will continue to maintain strong links with the community,” he added.
“They are mindful of Blanchland’s character and hope that, over time, a blend of different property owners will continue to support a more sustainable community.”
