£20million contract for 1,200 affordable homes in Cornwall (From This is The West Country)

£20million contract for 1,200 affordable homes in Cornwall

8:57am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in Cornwall

Cornwall Council has signed a contract with five housing associations to deliver an additional 1,200 affordable homes in Cornwall over four years.

Mark Kaczmarek, the councillor with responsibility for housing speaking at the site of a new affordable housing scheme at Terras Road St Stephen, said: “The council works closely with a number of housing associations to deliver affordable homes for local people. Here in St Stephen, there are 320 local people on our Homechoice register, in need of an affordable home.

“But this is not the only investment we are making. Given the desperate housing shortage and the Council’s commitment to meeting local housing needs, the Council has agreed ambitious plans to match pound for pound Government investment in new homes. I am pleased to announce that the council is signing contracts with five housing associations to deliver an additional 1,000 affordable homes in Cornwall over four years with investment totalling over £20 million. Few councils have made such a commitment.

Andy Moore, Chief Executive of Penwith Housing Association, part of DCH said: “There is a huge need for affordable housing across Cornwall. The delivery agreement with Cornwall Council is extremely important in providing vital new homes like the homes at St Stephen and we are pleased to be one of the partners working with them. A year on after moving in our residents have created a thriving community and we were delighted to come here to celebrate this achievement.”

The £2.6m scheme in St Stephen, which was completed in January 2012, provides 18 homes for rent and 4 for shared ownership. There are 9 x 2 bedroom homes, 10 x 3 bedroom homes, and 3 x 4-bedroom properties. Support came from a £1,350,000 investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and a grant of £55,000 from Cornwall Council.