Our history

We were founded as Northern Counties Housing Association in 1966.

Guinness Northern Counties timeline

1970s

By 1970 we were managing 400 homes in the North of England.  Our first homes were part of a co-ownership scheme off Ripon Road in Harrogate.  Our early operations were based on voluntary work from the Management Committee.

1980s

By 1980 we managed 5,400 homes and we started providing homes through a shared ownership scheme, where people could part-buy and part-rent their homes. 

1990s

In the1990s we were one of the country’s fastest growing housing associations, and had:

  • Developed high quality homes for people with special needs in High Peak, Glossop, Barnsley, Tameside and Lancaster
  • Provided 734 new homes for rent, and 575 homes for sale
  • Acquired two nursing homes in Sheffield, with a total of 90 accommodation units for people needing intensive care and support
  • Achieved a national first by building a scheme of bungalows in Sheffield, specifically for purchase by disabled people on a shared ownership basis
  • In partnership with the internationally renowned David Lewis Centre we developed a number of homes for people with epilepsy, the first project of its kind in the country
  • Worked with Manchester City Council on the redevelopment of an urban heritage site in Manchester, converting empty properties above shops into apartments.  By this time we were managing 18,000 homes housing 46,000 people
  • Developed the first shared ownership development of its kind in an estate in Sheffield where childcare facilities formed an integral part of the development
  • Worked with the Royal School for the Deaf to develop a unique supported housing scheme for young autistic deaf adults
  • Opened the Sheffield Foyer which offers housing, training, employment support and life skills to young people
  • Built 1,000 new homes and entered into a major regeneration programme at Brandy House Brow in Blackburn

2000s

By the year 2000 we were managing more than 20,000 homes and we:

  • Acquired City Response as one of our subsidiaries.  It provides maintenance services to our residents and those of other local housing associations and by February 2003 took its 20,000 order
  • Became one of the Housing Corporation’s Development Partners, working closely with other housing associations and local authority partners to implement regeneration programmes
  • Opened the parent and baby unit at the Sheffield Foyer to provide a secure and supportive environment for young single people to look after their children in the first stages of life
  • Opened new apartments in the Sports City area of Manchester
  • Opened Griffin Lodge in Stockport, a supported housing scheme for residents who are deaf and autistic
  • Moved to our Corporate Centre in Oldham, bringing new jobs to an area of regeneration
  • Opened our Customer Service Centre

In 2007, we came together with the Guinness Trust, Hermitage and Midsummer to form the second largest housing association in the country, The Guinness Partnership. In 2008 we formally changed our name to reflect our new geography and membership of the Partnership to become Guinness Northern Counties. Today we provide over 26,000 homes across the north of England.