Prince William unveils plans to tackle homelessness in Cornwall
A brand new set of homes to help people off the street will open in 2025
Last updated 18th Feb 2024
Prince William has revealed his plans to tackle homelessness in Cornwall, as he works with the Duchy of the region.
The Prince of Wales has announced that the estate will be taking on the task of building a number of homes specifically designed to get people sleeping rough off the streets.
Plans that were revealed by the estate on Sunday (February 18th) show that 24 homes will be built to cater to the homeless population in the Nansledan area of Newquay.
The area will also become the focus for a new push to increase the percentage of affordable housing in the county from 30% to 40%.
In total, an extra 200 homes are looking to be built to add to the over 1,000 affordable homes, with a particular focus on social rent and help people from lower incomes get onto the property ladder.
The initiative will be carried out in conjunction with the charity St Petrocs and alongside the homes, the charity will help provide support for local residents experiencing homelessness first-hand.
The land to build the homes will be donated by the Duchy of Cornwall, and will take a leading role in the development process for the houses.
As well as this, the aim for the homes has been described by the estate as a means to provide "high quality temporary accommodation" that can help those struggling back on their feet to find a permanent home.
According to current projections, construction on the homes is set to begin in September of this year, with the first homes set to be finished and ready to welcome tenants in autumn of 2025.
Speaking about the initiative, the Duchy of Cornwall's estate director Ben Murphy said that Prince William has been instrumental to the project.
"The Duchy is well-known for integrating high quality affordable housing into the new communities built on its land, and Prince William is determined to ensure that we continue to be part of the solution when it comes to the housing crisis," he said.
"The shortage of social rent and private rented properties are widely considered to be the main causes of increasing homelessness across the country, which is why we are proud to launch this project alongside ambitious plans to unlock more affordable and attainable homes across our estate."