Flushing, Cornwall affordable homes plan lodged

The application follows an extensive public consultation with the people of Mylor and Flushing parish in a bid to house local families who are being priced out of the housing market.

Cornwall Council is proposing to build the homes on land off Tregew Road, Flushing after the Cornwall Council’s Housing Delivery and Development team were tasked with delivering new affordable homes in areas with local housing need.

A computer generated image of how the new homes may look

In 2019, Mylor Parish Council approached Cornwall Council for help in providing genuinely affordable homes in the parish for local residents. This site, along the one road into Flushing was selected as the best, available option for future development.

The site is identified in the draft Neighbourhood Development Plan as a suitable location for affordable housing development.

The proposed development would be for 100% affordable housing, with a mix of social rented and shared-ownership homes, available to qualifying households in perpetuity.

In May 2021, Cornwall Homechoice says it had 55 local households registered that they were looking for an affordable home for rent in the parish. Similarly, the local Help to Buy register identified ten households looking to buy an affordable home in the parish.

A satellite image of where the homes will be

All affordable homes in Cornwall are let through the Cornwall Homechoice system. It is operated by Cornwall Housing on behalf of Cornwall Council and ensures that homes are allocated in a fair and transparent way.

The planning application seeks approval for 15 affordable dwellings comprising of three bungalows, two flats and ten houses with associated access road and infrastructure.

The proposed development site is located directly adjacent to Tregew Meadows; an existing residential housing development located in Flushing near Falmouth in Cornwall. The first phase comprising of 10 dwellings was constructed in 2011.

The completed site at Tregew

The new site is providing 70% rent on sites delivered through a registered provider and 30% sale.

Due to steep levels and existing tree planting a large area the south east boundary is not viable to be built on and has been allocated for wild flower grass meadow.

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The existing trees and hedge banks to the site are to be retained. This planting forms a buffer which largely screens the proposed development from wider public views.

Access to the site is via Tregew Meadows extending the existing access highway into the site.

How the houses would fit into the landscape

In its design and access statement Trewin Design Architects say the proposed application consists of single, two and three storey dwellings with traditional forms; pitched roofs throughout the development to reflect the scale of the surrounding buildings.

"This mix of units has been proposed in order to reflect the context and work well with the challenging levels on site," it says.

"The proposed layout shows a mix of dwellings in the form of semi-detached and terraces of three.

The design, layout and orientation of the proposed dwellings ensure that no detrimental overlooking or overbearing effects would occur on any adjoining properties. Bungalows have been deliberately proposed next to adjoining properties (plots 3&4) to ensure minimal impact is made.

They say the benefits of the proposed development are summarised as follows: -

• The provision of new much needed affordable housing in a sustainable location.

• The delivery of 15 dwellings 100% affordable, in an area of clear and demonstrable housing need is vital. The proposed development provides for a policy compliant on site.

• Local Planning Authorities are required to boost the supply of housing. In this context the proposed development is developable, viable and deliverable now and will contribute to the immediate need for market and affordable housing delivery in the area.

• It is considered that the proposed development, in applying the planning balance, that the benefits of the proposed development to be substantial and compelling. In context of the presumption in favour of sustainable development, as set out in the NPPF, there is no significant and demonstrable harm capable of outweighing the benefits of the proposal and hope that the council will feel able to support the application.

The application PA22/03510 can be seen here