NHS trust gets approval to build staff housing in Redruth
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust says it's "required" due to the housing and cost-of-living crisis
An NHS trust has been granted planning permission to build housing for staff, which it says is required due to the housing and cost-of-living crisis.
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) had its application to build six units of staff accommodation at Tolvean House in Redruth approved.
Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee granted planning permission despite objections from Redruth Town Council and local Cornwall councillor Stephen Barnes. One of the main concerns was that work had started on the development before planning permission was granted.
Cllr Barnes said he did not think it was suitable to accommodate staff in modular housing and suggested that the applicants were "using the NHS as an emotional sledgehammer to get what they want but the staff deserve better, this is an insult to staff".
The Labour councillor said that he was disappointed that work had started on the housing before planning permission was granted and said that it “should be refused outright and the building demolished”.
However, Thomas Lilleyman, from CPFT, said that the accommodation was needed for staff who would be working nearby: "This development is incredibly close. It is intended to provide accommodation for individuals who work at the hospital.
"We are in a staffing crisis. The NHS is struggling to meet its needs. Part of the concerns around housing availability and cost of housing has resulted in us needing to provide affordable housing for nursing staff."
He explained that the decision to build on the site was made due to its proximity to where staff will be working and said that the trust would also be encouraging staff to cycle and was providing electric bikes for staff.
In response to questions Mr Lilleyman said that it would be a condition of people using the accommodation that they continue working for CPFT. It was also stated that it was not considered to be a temporary development and would be permanent.
Local people who objected raised concerns about the amount of parking which would be provided for the new units as well as the loss of parking spaces at Tolvean House. Those concerns were echoed by Redruth Town Council.
Committee member Loveday Jenkin said that she appreciated the concerns of locals but was also well aware of the issues for NHS staff as she sits on the council’s health and adult social care overview and scrutiny committee. She said that NHS staff could not afford private rents and highlighted that there was a shortage of private rental properties at all.
The committee agreed to grant planning permission with six votes in favour and three against.