Cornwall Council has succeeded in bidding to take part in a new initiative that will help smaller local building companies develop new affordable homes for local people.
The initiative sees the council join forces with government agency Local Partnerships to pilot a model that hopes to unlock small sites for delivery by small and medium-sized construction firms.
Construction of the projects will be financed by Cornwall Council, with the homes transferred to council ownership to let to local families as affordable housing.
The council believe the scheme could bring forward small sites that smaller building companies own and could have the potential to provide new quality homes, with around two to ten on each site.
Once this happens, the council will assess the viability of each proposal, taking into account local housing need and if the site and proposal is suitable for both partners.
If the proposals are suitable, Cornwall Council would then enter into contract to make staged payments to the builder and deliver the housing partnership with them.
Over the coming weeks, Cornwall Council will be contacting many small and medium-sized construction firms with details of the project and are encouraging local builders to proactively make contact with them if they are interested in taking part.
Commenting, Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Homes, Councillor Andrew Mitchell said: “We know that small construction firms in Cornwall build really good quality homes and play an enormous role in supporting our local economy. In many ways they could be considered the backbone of our local development industry.”
“Being granted this pilot status is great news, as it means that for the first time, we can work with local firms in Cornwall and develop homes for local families, in partnership with a part of the construction sector that we don’t ordinarily have much opportunity to work with.”
