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Gail Hunt, Chair of the Penwith Housing Association (PHA) welcomed him and many other guests. The homes, earmarked to meet local needs, will be built by Rok Construction and should be completed in October. PHA, along with Devon and Cornwall Housing Association (DCHA), are responsible for the development.
The total cost of this rural housing scheme will be nearly £4 million. There will be 23 for rent, seven for low cost ‘Homebuy’ shared ownership and ten open market plots.
It was a special event for him, said Mr Taylor. Some years ago, as local MP, he had been to visit the parish council and learned of the local need for homes here and throughout Cornwall, a view that he later expressed in Parliament in his report to the Prime Minister on the future of local communities – ‘Living Working Countryside’.
That 2008 review gave him the opportunity to set out proposals for changes to the planning system to help meet rural housing needs. “There is no better example of that than in this community” he declared. “And these homes would not be built without help and support from the parish, the county and those who live in the community. If it did not have that it could not have gone ahead. It is ‘community led’ because the only way to make progress is for the community to be engaged. There are many people living and working in the local shops, businesses and schools, carers and people providing other essential services who need to live locally but cannot afford to buy homes in their own area. Such homes as these give them their opportunity to live in their community”.
Mr Taylor said this might be the final building scheme in which he would be involved as MP since he is standing down at the election. However, it is the first scheme he has opened in his new role as Chair of the National Housing Federation, representing 1,200 housing associations across the country and two million tenants in homes managed by them.
They are non-profit organisations providing homes for local people that would not be built without a mixture of Government funding and funds raised through the non-profit principle. “I will continue to put my efforts in the future into work to provide housing for people otherwise unable to afford a decent home”.
The site is between the villages of Gerrans and Portscatho. It was the one favoured by the majority of residents said PHA Chief Executive, Andy Moore. “It is an area of outstanding beauty so it was important to consider many features” he remarked. “Ecological and tree surveys have been carried out and recommendations have been incorporated in the scheme.
One key challenge was that prior to construction commencing over 700 slow worms were relocated from the site to a nearby farm. It is also of medieval Bronze age and early Neolithic activity. An archaeologist will provide a watching brief during the topsoil stripping across the site”.
Mr Moore added “The development of this site for affordable homes is particularly important because, from the information received by Cornwall Council’s Affordable Housing Team, Gerrans parish has the highest level of unmet housing need of all the parishes on the Roseland”.
The 23 homes for rent will be of 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms and the seven for shared ownership of 2 and 3 bedrooms. The scheme has been supported by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the national housing and regeneration agency, that have provided nearly £1.5 million in grant aid along with Cornwall Council who provided £400,000. The remainder of the cost is met by the Association’s own resources.
Colin Molton, South West Regional Director and national lead on rural policy for the HCA said “Affordability is a major issue facing our rural communities. We want to ensure that these communities are sustainable and continue to thrive, and rural affordable housing plays a vital role in this. We are delighted to have been able to work with Penwith Housing Association (PHA) and Cornwall Council to invest in the future of this community”.
Mr Moore also praised the efforts of the parish council and others in recognising the local housing need. They would continue to strive to meet the significant rural demand. By combining resources and opportunities with an experienced team of contractors and professionals, the Devon and Cornwall Housing Group would be carrying out several similar schemes in Cornwall.
Among the many others present were the parish council chair, Howard Emmett; vice-chair Ken Symons; County Councillor Julian German; chair of Devon and Cornwall Housing Trust, Jonathan Broad; representatives of the boards of both PHA and DCHA; Lucie Sominka, development officer responsible for the scheme; the contractors ROK and the other professionals involved in bringing the scheme to fruition.
