Cornwall Council to buy 130 properties at Garden Village for affordable housing
The homes are part of the development at West Carclaze.
Cornwall Council is set to buy up 130 homes which are being built at an Garden Village near St Austell to use for affordable housing.
The council’s Cabinet agreed to acquire the homes which are part of the development at West Carclaze.
Under the proposals the homes would be used as a mix of affordable rent and shared ownership properties for those in need.
Andrew Mitchell, Cabinet member for housing, said it was an example of how the council is working to provide affordable homes for local people.
“To date we have delivered 961 homes and we expect (to reach) 1,000 homes to be completed in the next few months.”
Cllr Andrew Mitchell, Cabinet Member for Housing, Cornwall Council
The council, he said, had helped to improve the quality of new homes being built and said that this had set the standard for homes built in Cornwall both now and in the future.
Cllr Mitchell said that the West Carclaze development was being built with “enhanced environmental measures” and to provide the jobs and infrastructure which would be needed for the community.
“We are doing something in the Clay area with this project. 130 good quality, affordable homes in one of the areas of Cornwall that needs it most.”
Cllr Andrew Mitchell
Malcolm Brown, Cornwall councillor for Bethel, said that consultation and engagement by the developers of the eco-community meant that it had local support.
“It has taken a long time for this to come to fruition. There is the potential for better quality development to be provided than your standard estate tacked on to the edge of a town.”
Cllr Malcolm Brown
He also said that there had been concerns locally in the past but said that he believed there was support now.
“The developers have managed to achieve more public confidence through a lot of consultation and engagement.
“I am pleased that things have started on the ground now. It is good that Cornwall Council is coming in at such an early stage to make it possible.”
Cllr Malcolm Brown
The West Carclaze Garden Village will eventually have up to 1,500 new homes as well as a primary school, shops, doctors’ surgery, dentists and other community facilities.
It will also open up a large area of open space which will be available for people to explore and use for leisure pursuits.