Plan to increase affordable homes

The council wants to increase affordable homes in Padstow

Half of new housing developments in north Cornwall could be required to be affordable homes.

North Cornwall District Council wants to increase the number of low cost homes under new proposals.

If approved, every new development of more than two homes will have to include some affordable housing.

Areas like Padstow, where a quarter of houses are second homes, will have the most stringent rules with 50% of homes on new estates having to be affordable.

Unless they meet the new requirements, developers are unlikely to get planning permission.

Councillors have backed these proposals, which will now be the subject of public consultation until mid-November.

The proposals include:

Increasing the percentage of affordable housing required from 35% to 45% per development.
Reducing the size of developments above which affordable housing will be required from 15 homes to 5 homes in Bodmin, Bude, Camelford, Launceston and Wadebridge and to two homes everywhere else in North Cornwall.
Adding Padstow to the list of parishes where, because more than quarter of homes are second homes, 50% affordable housing is required.
Increasing the income levels below which people are eligible for new affordable housing to £25,000 for a single person and £35,000 for a household.
Giving more priority to local people

If these proposals are accepted, they could be introduced early next year.