Residents, partners and stakeholders gathered to celebrate the completion of a major new affordable housing development in Cornwall, providing 79 much-needed homes for local people.
The new homes at Foxes Field, Gulval, near Penzance, have been delivered by LiveWest and offer a mix of social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership properties, helping more people access high-quality, affordable housing in an area where demand continues to outstrip supply.
The development comprises 23 social rented homes, 27 affordable rented homes and 29 shared ownership properties.
All 79 homes are owned and managed by LiveWest, part of Bromford Flagship LiveWest, and have been designed with sustainability and affordability in mind.
The homes feature modern energy-efficiency measures including solar panels, air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points, helping customers reduce energy costs while lowering carbon emissions.
The £21.8 million development was made possible through partnership working between LiveWest, Cornwall Council, Homes England and contractor Classic Builders.
Gareth Jones, Development Director at LiveWest, said: “The completion of these 79 affordable homes is another important milestone in our commitment to delivering the homes that Cornwall urgently needs.
“Too many local people are being priced out of the communities where they live and work. By working closely with Cornwall Council, Homes England and our delivery partners, we have created a development that offers a range of affordable housing options and enables more people to remain in the area they call home.
“These are high-quality, energy-efficient homes that will make a real difference to people’s lives. We are proud to have worked alongside our partners to deliver a development that not only provides affordable housing but also helps to create a thriving, sustainable community for generations to come.”
The new homes form part of LiveWest’s wider ambition to deliver around 1,000 affordable homes across Cornwall over the next five years, building on the organisation’s ongoing investment in tackling the county’s housing shortage.
The development has already had a positive impact on customers moving into the new homes.
Residents have described the homes as providing stability, security and peace of mind, with the energy-efficient features helping to reduce household costs at a time when many families continue to face financial pressures.
Ryan, who has moved into his new home at Foxes Field, said: “I am in all in support of this. When I was accepted into this community, it honestly just felt like a weight lifted from my shoulders.
“Having such an affordable home that’s really nice and energy efficient, I couldn’t have wished for anything more.
“It’s great to see more affordable homes being made to help with the housing issues in Cornwall.”
The development received support from Cornwall Council, who worked with LiveWest and partners to help address local housing need and ensure more local people can access affordable homes within their communities.
Councillor Peter La Broy, Cornwall Council cabinet member for housing, said: “Demand for good-quality, affordable housing continues to grow and while there is no quick fix to Cornwall’s housing crisis, we are committed to doing what we can to support building more affordable homes in the areas where they are most needed.
“By working closely with our partners, we can bring forward much-needed homes that support local families, help meet housing demand and create sustainable communities.”
The scheme benefited from more than £5.9 million of grant funding from Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, helping to bring much-needed affordable homes to the area.
Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England, said: “As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting stakeholders of all sizes to achieve their ambitions.
“It’s great to see these 79 much-needed affordable homes in Foxes Field delivered, and it shows the positive impact we are making in the region with LiveWest. This is a prime example of how we work collaboratively with partners to achieve our mission to build much needed new communities that people can be proud to call home.”
Andrew George, MP for St Ives, said: “The addition of 79 genuinely affordable homes is wonderful news for our local community and especially for the local families who’ve secured one of these lovely homes.
“It demonstrates the vital role housing associations like LiveWest play in tackling Cornwall’s housing crisis. This is an important step in the right direction. But even this development represents a small step when considered against the level of need.
“Far too many local individuals and families struggle in poor quality, expensive and insecure accommodation. This causes detriment to their health, well-being, life chances and drives many into marginal survival and poverty.
“By delivering affordable homes at scale and working closely with partners, housing associations like LiveWest are helping more local people remain in the communities where they live, work and maintain strong and supportive family connections.
“I’ve backed this project since first proposed. Developments like Foxes Field show what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared commitment to meeting local housing need.“