Local landlord Coastline Housing has officially marked the start of a project to develop 90 new homes at Heartlands in Pool thanks to funding of £3.2million from Cornwall Council and the Homes and Communities Agency.

The development will include a national first, with 20 of the homes being built for the government’s new Rent to Buy scheme. In addition, 54 homes will be built for affordable rent and 16 offered under a part-buy, part-rent scheme.

Under the new Rent to Buy scheme, the government offers low cost loans to landlords to build homes to be let at sub-market rent for a minimum of seven years to households who have never owned a home before. The tenants can then use this fixed period of support to achieve their aspiration of home ownership, either by buying the home they are renting or another one.

Joyce Duffin, Cornwall Council cabinet member for housing and environment, said: “There is a significant demand for local needs housing with 441 households in the immediate area currently registered with Cornwall Homechoice. Cornwall Council remains committed to delivering affordable homes for local people and this new development from our partners, Coastline Housing, will go some way towards meeting this need.”

The homes, due to be completed in autumn 2017, are being built by Kier Living and are a mixture of flats and houses, ranging between one and three bedrooms. Part of the development will include a purpose-built older person’s scheme.

Derek Law, chairman of Coastline Housing who hopped aboard a digger to perform the official ground-breaking ceremony, said: “Coastline is incredibly proud to be part of this significant local development which will continue the regeneration of Camborne, Pool and Redruth. I very much look forward to seeing the homes take shape.”

The properties are being built across two sites at Heartlands, known as the Southern Parcel and Northern Parcel. Coastline is working closely with developer Carillion igloo on site. Carillion igloo will be delivering the UK’s first Custom Build project backed by the Homes and Communities Agency at Heartlands.

Jon Sawyer, of Carillion igloo, added: “We’re pleased to be working in partnership with Coastline to deliver new homes across a range of tenures, including giving Custom Build buyers the opportunity to create their dream home”

Anyone who would like more information about how to apply for a home at Heartlands should visit Coastline’s website.