PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 11 th Sept 2007
Housing crisis – “Tell Us Your Story”

The Campaign for Affordable Homes Cornwall are calling on local people struggling to find an affordable home in the county to “Tell Us Your Story”. The group are accusing the Government of failing to listen to the people of Cornwall and of imposing one size fits all housing ‘solutions’ on the county.

As Government plans to force Cornwall to accept thousands of new houses across the county progress, the Campaign for Affordable Homes Cornwall warn that the plans may not solve the growing crisis. The group are calling on the thousands of people in Cornwall who are unable to afford a permanent home to rent, buy or part buy, to visit their website www.affordablehomes.org.uk and ‘Tell Us Your Story’. The information gathered will be used as part of a dossier to present to Housing Minister Yvette Cooper which will detail the real issues facing real people in Cornwall wanting a home. CAHC will also send the form by post if you call Vicky on 07811 963562

Kate Tregunna, CAHC:
“The government are prescribing so-called “solutions” in ignorance. They don’t have a real idea of how many local people are looking for homes in Cornwall, what they can afford, where they want to live or whether they want to buy or rent. There are literally hundreds of people who earn too much to get anywhere on council housing registers, yet too little to qualify for government affordable home schemes, let alone buy or rent privately. As far as official records go they don’t exist, they are the hidden homeless of Cornwall. We want to hear from these people so we can make the Government listen to what real people need”.

The Campaign for Affordable Homes Cornwall believe that until government policy on the provision of affordable housing truly reflects the real problems on the ground in Cornwall, the thousands of new houses being forced on Cornwall will remain unaffordable for those who are suffering most from the present crisis – local people.

Vicky Garner, CAHC: “We know that there is a huge gap between what people in Cornwall are earning and the price of homes in the county. We also know that housing waiting lists are bursting at the seams. We continue to build to meet government targets but still local people wait for homes. Who are we building for? We want to make sure that future housing policy in Cornwall is tailored to the people who live here, to their salaries, to their needs. We’re not asking for favours, we’re asking for a fair and level playing field that takes account of the circumstances of the people living and working here”.

CAHC have also set up a petition calling for specific measures to tackle the housing crisis in Cornwall, that can be signed online at www.affordablehomes.org.uk . Paper copies are also available – please call Kate on 07792 727469

 

Press Release: 3rd September 2007
CARRICK IS THE LEAST AFFORDABLE RURAL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY

The Campaign for Affordable Homes Cornwall (CAHC) are calling on Carrick District Council to pull out all the stops to deliver more affordable homes in the district after the Halifax revealed that Carrick is the least affordable rural area in the country.

With over 2500 people on the waiting list for homes in the district and far too few vacancies arising in social housing each year to house even those in priority need, CAHC are seeking reassurance from the council that every new development in Carrick will feature the percentage of affordable units as specified by the council, at the very least.

Kate Tregunna CAHC:“We want Carrick to promise that they will make it crystal clear to all developers that building new affordable homes is not a requirement they can escape from. It’s time that the council put us first. We are in crisis, we desperately need more affordable homes and it’s time Carrick acted this way”.

At a time when affordable housing is desperately needed in the county, CAHC were distressed to hear of at least one development in Carrick that has gone ahead without any affordable homes being built (Boscawen Woods outside Truro). On another large development where affordable housing has been promised it is yet to be delivered, despite building work going on for several years.

CAHC are asking Carrick to ensure that developers factor in any site costs associated with building affordable units before they offer on land and secondly that the council push developers to build affordable homes on new developments first rather than leaving them until last.

For further information please call Vicky Garner on 07811 963 562. Kate Tregunna is available for interview.

Press Release: 20th April 2006
News that the Commission for Rural Communities is considering a new tax to be paid by absentee landlords has been welcomed by the Campaign for Affordable Homes Cornwall (CAHC)- click here for full press release

29th March 2006
"Tonight" with Trevor McDonald, ITV, has been in touch with the Affordable Homes Campaign office and we are hoping that they will be filming using Cornish case studies in the near future.