Plans to provide 18 SoloHaus modular homes on part of Tregunnel Hill car park in Newquay have been given the go ahead by the central planning committee at their meeting this week.
The scheme at Tregunnel car park is the third SoloHaus to successfully go through the planning process and will provide purpose-built modular homes with outside space, utilising low carbon heating technologies. The homes are specifically intended to help those with a history of homelessness, who are ready to move on from emergency accommodation or other provision, and will help reduce the need to place people in expensive, nightly-paid hotels and B&Bs.
“We are taking direct action to tackle the serious housing crisis facing the people of Cornwall by providing homes for those that need our help” said the council’s portfolio holder for housing Olly Monk. “We all need and deserve somewhere to live and call home. The lack of affordable accommodation is affecting all types of households, including working families, couples and single people. Many people are struggling to find somewhere to live, with a sharp increase in the number of single people sleeping rough or in their cars and vans.”
“These modular SoloHaus homes provide excellent quality accommodation for single people who would otherwise be homeless. They also provide excellent value for money which means that we have a stock of good quality homes that people can live in for a short period on dedicated sites, whilst they get the help they need to secure a permanent home. By delivering these homes, we are helping residents live nearer to where they want and need to be, with the security of knowing the home is theirs until a permanent home can be found”.
Tackling current housing pressures is a top priority for the Council. The impact of the Covid pandemic, the reduction in the number of privately rented homes, in part put down to increased demand for holiday accommodation, rising rental costs and the recent general property boom have created a ‘perfect storm’ in the local housing market.
There are currently over 700 households living in temporary or emergency accommodation across Cornwall, with more than 330 single people in need of housing. People can find themselves homeless for many reasons, including family or relationship breakdown, fleeing domestic violence, eviction from a privately rented home (including ‘no fault’ evictions), loss of income/employment, bereavement, significant changes to mental or physical health, or struggling to cope with life outside the armed forces.
Last year, in a landmark deal with the Hill Group, Cornwall Council bought 79 modular SoloHaus self-contained one-bedroom homes to provide safe and secure homes for people in urgent housing need. Designed with the help of leading homelessness charities, SoloHaus properties are single-storey fully self-contained modular homes with kitchen, living and dining area, bedroom and bathroom and arrive fully furnished, with everything necessary for someone to move into the same day, right down to cutlery, towels and bedlinen.
The first Council Solohaus scheme at Old County Hall in Truro was completed earlier this month, with the first residents moving into their new home before Christmas. A planning application has recently been approved for 6 SoloHaus homes at Commercial Road, Penryn, with a planning application also submitted for a site in Penzance.
Presenting the Tregunnel scheme to members of Central Planning Committee, Sam Irving, Cornwall Council’s Head of Housing Delivery & Regeneration said: “The proposal makes best use of this public asset for a blend of housing and parking purposes.”
The Tregunnel Hill scheme construction is expected to begin in the Spring, with the first residents due to move in in late 2023.
The site will be managed by Cornwall Housing Ltd. a specialist housing provider who will be responsible for repairs and maintenance of the accommodation and grounds to ensure the site remains an attractive and comfortable space for residents to live.
With potential residents already a good way through their journey to settled housing, they will have low or no support needs. Each tenant will receive help to find a regular source of income and a more permanent home.
Councillor Monk added: “We recognise the concerns which have been raised over the loss of parking and will be working with our transport service to redesign the remaining section of the Tregunnel Hill car park to increase capacity. We are also committed to securing a long term Park and Ride facility for Newquay to increase the amount of parking available in the town. “
As well as providing modular homes to provide temporary and emergency accommodation, the Council is also continuing work 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
- Unlock the potential for town centres to be regenerated to provide more housing
- 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 22 December 2022