Cornwall Council’s scheme to build 15 new affordable homes for local people in Callington is complete, with the first residents moving into their new homes.
The new homes at Urban Terrace replace 10 council-owned and 5 privately owned homes built in the 1950’s. The properties had to be demolished when mundic was found which was gradually making them structurally unsound.
One resident who has moved back in said:
"I think it’s absolutely amazing. It's a beautiful house and well worth the wait. It means everything to us to come home.”
Welcoming the new homes, Olly Monk, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for housing and planning said:
“The previous, defective properties have been replaced with good quality affordable houses and flats for social rent to local people. The people who lived in the original council owned properties have been given first refusal on the new homes.
“Working with contractor Classic Builders, these new affordable homes for people with a local connection have renewable energy sources and high levels of insulation so are much more cost effective to run, and provide safe, secure and healthy places for residents.”
Throughout the redevelopment period, Cornwall Housing supported displaced residents to ensure they had alternative subsidised accommodation.
Kellie Webb, Cornwall Housing's Acquisitions Team Leader, emphasized the quality and care invested in the project:
"The houses are of a really high quality, and my role has been to ensure they meet those standards.”
Ruth Ayre, Voids and Lettings Manager at Cornwall Housing said:
“I had the lovely job of re-letting the new homes with our Area Housing Officer. This is the most rewarding part of my job - being able to hand over the keys. Especially to tenants who have been waiting to return to their homes. It’s wonderful to see the looks on their faces.”
The new scheme includes 4 one-bedroom flats, 7 two bedroom houses and 4 three bedroom houses with gardens and parking. All the homes are highly insulated and heated with low carbon air source heat pumps. The re-designed homes are modern and spacious demonstrating the Council's commitment to supporting its communities so that residents have access to safe and quality housing.
As well as providing the 15 new homes, the scheme also includes landscaping and tree planting, with bee bricks and bird boxes to increase biodiversity.
The council is continuing in its commitment tackle the housing crisis, working to:
- Buy existing homes to use as social housing
- Build more Council houses for local people to rent or buy
- Support the provision of affordable homes by housing associations for local people to rent or buy
- Ensure sites deliver affordable housing through the planning process
- Support community-led organisations that want to deliver their own homes
- Offer loans to bring empty homes back into use
- Enable communities to stop new builds being snapped up by would be second homeowners.
Story posted 25 July 2024