NDP welcomes Cornwall Council’s clarification on affordable homes

Fears that Mylor’s Neighbourhood Development Plan was being side-lined by Cornwall Council and Mylor Parish Council have been put to rest at a meeting hosted by the Steering Group on 21 October 2020.

The meeting, held on Zoom, was attended by Cllr Andrew Mitchell, CC Portfolio Holder for Housing Delivery, and Sam Irving, CC Head of Housing Delivery. Eight members of the steering Group and 24 other attendees, including Mylor Parish Councillors and members of the public, heard them clarify Cornwall Council’s position in relation to leaked proposals to develop affordable housing at two potential sites, Tregew Meadow in Flushing and Saltbox Close in Mylor Bridge.

The meeting discussed concerns about the lack of public information or consultation about affordable housing developments, and the fear that plans being discussed between Cornwall Council and the Parish Council would not align with the community’s wishes and needs as expressed in the NDP.

Cllr Mitchell said he had received a number of emails from concerned residents and was keen to reassure them. He stressed that he wished to work with the community, the Parish Council and the NDP. Mr Irving confirmed that the Council is committed to providing affordable homes and to working with communities to agree what type and where they should be built.

Speaking on behalf of the Steering Group, James Robinson thanked the Council for clarifying its position. He said that Tregew Meadow had been identified as a suitable site for affordable homes, following community engagement through the NDP, and would be welcomed.

No decision has been taken and no plans drawn up for development of Saltbox Close. A pre- app for extension of Tregew Meadow has been issued by Cornwall Council to consider whether the ground is suitable to establish a development of mixed tenure affordable homes. This is at a very early stage and there will be a further pre- app to discuss style and type of housing. Anyone wishing to comment now should contact the Parish Council.

The Steering Group is now glad that its recent questions to the Parish Council about intentions for affordable housing have been answered with Cornwall Council’s help. We are reassured to hear that will be a full consultation process so that parishioners can have their say in decisions about the location, type and number of affordable homes. Presumably that consultation will be conducted by the Parish Council under Cornwall Council protocols. Anyone with questions should contact the Parish Council.

We look forward to taking the NDP forward to completion and are helping prepare it for examination before a final consultation and referendum by May 2021.

You can read the full minutes of the meeting here.