Plans by Cornwall Council to build 1,000 homes are continuing with the authority set to buy three sites for housing.

The council has a Housing Development Plan (HDP) with which it is hoping to increase the number of affordable homes available for local people.

It has been identifying sites which it either already owns or are available for sale so it can provide housing in the areas which need it most.

Next week the council’s ruling Cabinet will consider plans for three more sites, in Liskeard, Launceston and Redruth, which have been earmarked for housing development.

In Launceston the council is looking at a 8.5-hectare site at Link Road and in Liskeard the council wants to acquire 1.9 hectares of land at Maudlin Farm.

The land in Redruth is part of a 17.2-hectare site at Tolgus which has outline planning permission for 370 homes. Under the council’s proposals it would build 150 of the homes under the HDP with the other 220 to be built by a partner or partners.

In Launceston the council is looking to build 140 homes and 55 in Liskeard.

The land at Launceston is part of a larger site which is being developed by Persimmon and has outline planning permission for 278 houses, a food store, 60-bed hotel, a pub/restaurant and a fast food restaurant.

Cornwall Council has launched the HDP to try to tackle some of the problems with the private rental market. These include affordability and value for money; the size and quality of homes; lack of secure tenure; demand exceeding supply; increasing numbers of families in the private rental sector; 50% of homes in the sector are considered to be “non-decent” and the poor health of people living in those homes.

The HDP will be focused on providing rental properties which the council says will be “characterised by a high quality of design

providing accessible and flexible accommodation to meet

tenant’s changing needs”.

The council adds: “The homes will achieve high levels of energy efficiency

reducing fuel bills and running costs and reducing fuel poverty.

“Tenancies will be for five years (including an introductory tenancy period) with a presumption in favour of renewal where school age children are in the household.

“Lettings will be in accordance with a Local Lettings Plan which gives priority for the market rented homes to households with a local connection through residence, employment or caring responsibilities.”

All the land which is required will be bought using a £70million fund which was approved by the council’s Cabinet in November.

No details of the cost of each site have been revealed for commercial confidentiality reasons. The financial details will be considered in closed session at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.