New social rented homes at Carn Thomas will provide much-needed affordable housing for local people and help support the long-term future of island communities.
LiveWest, part of Bromford Flagship LiveWest, is set to deliver 27 new affordable homes on St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly, helping tackle one of the UK's most acute housing shortages.
We have entered into contract with Nevada Construction Limited to build the new homes at Carn Thomas, a former secondary school site on St Mary's.
The homes will be built on land we acquired from the Council of the Isles of Scilly in 2023 and it will see the first affordable housing development on the islands for many years.
Delivered in partnership with the Council of the Isles of Scilly and Homes England, construction is due to begin in September 2026 on 27 new energy-efficient homes for social rent, providing a mix of one, two and three-bedroom properties to help meet local housing needs.
Gareth Jones, our Development Director at LiveWest, said: "This is a hugely important milestone for the Isles of Scilly and a rare opportunity to help address the significant shortage of affordable housing on the islands.
"For many local people, families and key workers, finding a genuinely affordable home has become increasingly difficult, so the delivery of these new social rented homes will make a real difference to the community.
"Carn Thomas is a strategically important development that will provide 27 high-quality, energy-efficient homes while supporting the long-term sustainability of island life. These homes will help more people remain on the islands, strengthen local communities and support essential services and businesses.
"This project is only possible because of the strong partnership between LiveWest, the Council of the Isles of Scilly and Homes England. Together, we are delivering what will be the first affordable housing development on the islands for more than a generation and creating homes that will benefit local people for years to come."
The scheme has been designed to achieve high environmental standards. All homes will be equipped with air source heat pumps and solar photovoltaic panels, while the wider development will include EV charging provision, biodiversity enhancements and a solar garden.
The development will comprise 12 one-bedroom homes, 10 two-bedroom homes and five three-bedroom homes.
Bob Tranckle, Founding Director of Nevada Construction, said: “We are incredibly proud to be working with LiveWest on this project.
"This is a real milestone for Nevada Construction as our first project outside of the UK mainland, and from the outset we knew that building on the Isles of Scilly would bring a unique set of challenges.
“For us, that is part of what makes this project so exciting. A huge amount of work has already gone into the planning and logistics, and there is a real sense of excitement within the Nevada team now that work is getting underway.
“We are looking forward to working closely with LiveWest, all of the project partners and, importantly, the local community on St Mary’s.
“We want to embrace the island and its community throughout the project and deliver something that everyone involved can be proud of.
“Nevada has been built by continually raising the bar, taking on new and exciting challenges, and working in the Isles of Scilly is another one of those challenges.”
Cllr Tim Dean, Lead Member for Housing and Corporate Estate at the Council of the Isles of Scilly, said: “I’m thrilled to finally be able to share this exciting news with the community.
"In my eight years as a Councillor, and particularly since becoming Lead Member for Housing and Corporate Estate, I’ve seen a huge amount of effort and perseverance go into making this development a reality.
“I can’t thank our officers and partner organisations enough for their tenacity in the face of some really significant challenges over the years.
“Seeing the site developed for the benefit of the islands as a whole will be a wonderful reward for those who never lost faith in this project, and I can’t wait to see the positive impact the new properties will have on individuals, families, businesses and services within our community.”
Significant grant funding has helped make the development possible, recognising the unique challenges and costs associated with building in a remote island location.
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 is one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting stakeholders of all sizes to achieve their ambitions.
"It's great to see construction planned for the greatest number of affordable homes to be built on the Isles of Scilly in many years. These 27 new social rent homes at Carn Thomas will make a real and lasting difference to life on the island, giving local people and families the chance to put down roots in the community they call home.
"This scheme is a great example of what can be achieved through strong partnership working. By bringing together LiveWest and the Council of the Isles of Scilly, we're able to help deliver a development that supports the future of this community.”
The project received funding from the UK Government through the Land Release Fund. This supported upfront works to enable new homes to come forward.
“Unlocking council land and delivering new homes is crucial across the country. What makes this development so special is that it will provide 100% affordable homes to help meet local demand,” said Paul Britton, South West Lead at One Public Estate.