Work begins on new homes at North Country

The first phase of 27 homes is due to complete in March 2016, with the remainder being delivered in December 2016. Coastline’s new development will host a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, including some bungalows where people can live with the support of a carer.

The development’s initial phases of construction will coincide with national Rural Housing Week which

aims to demonstrate the important role affordable housing plays in maintaining rural communities.

Figures recently released by the National Housing Federation list Cornwall as the rural county with the highest number of second homes in the UK, topping the list with 14,253 – a pressure which further impacts on the local housing market in the county, making affordable homes all the more essential.

Within Cornwall, the average starter home costs more than 12 times a first time buyer’s average annual wage.

Allister Young, CEO of Coastline Housing, said: “Housing associations can play a vital part in rural communities, helping local people continue to live in the same area as their friends and family, when they otherwise might be priced out of the market.

“We have consulted closely with local people in planning for this development, and it will feature some specially adapted properties including a number of bungalows. This will potentially allow some customers living locally to downsize from large family homes if they need to, and escape the burden of the Government’s ‘bedroom tax.’”

As well as affordable homes for rent, local people will also be able to buy their own new affordable home in North Country through Coastline’s shared ownership scheme (part buy, part rent). Shares of the new homes are available to buy based on individual financial circumstances, with some homes requiring deposits of just five per cent of the share purchased. For more information please call 0808 202 7728 or go to www.coastlinehousing.co.uk.