TWENTY-five brand new council houses on a housing development have been completed and allocated to local families in housing need. 

The new homes at Trecerus Farm in Padstow are part of a Cornwall Council scheme to provide 55 affordable homes in Padstow for households with a local connection  

In partnership with regional developer Poltair Homes, the Council is providing two, three and four-bedroom bungalows and houses, plus four one-bedroom flats, using funding from its Housing Revenue Account ‘council housing’ programme. 

In total, there will be 24 bungalows and houses and four flats for social rent, and 27 family-sized houses available for shared ownership to enable, usually first-time, buyers to get on the housing ladder with a small mortgage, and rental top-up.   

Cornwall Council portfolio holder for housing and planning Olly Monk said: "We’re committed to helping our residents and this scheme of brand-new council houses is a small part of what we're trying to achieve across Cornwall, building more decent, well-constructed and affordable homes for local families in housing need.” 

One of the new residents at Trecerus Farm is Ashleigh said: "It’s a dream come true. We’ve been living on a friend's sofa but now my two-year-old little boy and ten-year-old son finally have somewhere that I can actually start calling home, and a garden for the kids to go out and play in."

Olly Monk added: "This 100% affordable scheme in an area of high land values like Padstow is a landmark for us. Padstow is an area of high housing need, and these homes are for people with a local connection to Padstow and the immediate surrounding areas."  

Local Cornwall Councillor for Padstow Stephen Rushworth said: "We've got such a shortage of housing, it's all over Cornwall so this is so important, it gives such a boost to local people who are moving into these new, bigger houses. And it's just a great thing for the town."

The council says all the homes are energy efficient, with each home provided with a low carbon air source heat pump and the electrical infrastructure to allow residents to install their own electric car charging points in the future.