Modular housing scheme set for Cornwall approval

Plans to build a modular housing development in Cornwall look set to advance despite coming up against opposition.Lined up are 18 single-storey modular accommodation units to provide temporary move-on accommodation for former rough sleepers “on their pathway to settled housing”.Residents would have ‘low to no’ support needs, having already received first-stage support, and will continue to do so throughout their time living at Tregunnel Hill.”The intention is for residents to consider the properties as their homes (for the medium term), before moving to permanent, fully independent housing in time,” said a report drawn up ahead of Cornwall Council’s planning committee meeting on 12 December.That same report notes that there have been a “number of objections to the proposal from local residents”, mainly focused on the loss of parking spaces, with 120 of the 409 available forming part of the scheme.The town council has also objected to the proposal with concerns regarding “the loss of a seasonally important parking for summer visitors and the permanent change of use of the land”.In terms of the benefits of the scheme, it is acknowledged that it would “increase the supply of specialist ‘move-on’ (rather than emergency) housing, which is an identified priority of the current housing shortage scenario”.”This has significant social and economic benefits by having purpose-built accommodation available, rather than the Council using expensive and less suitable alternative accommodation as it does at present,” it added.”This is coupled with support to the local economy, through economic benefits during the construction phase and economic benefits over the lifetime of the development from increased spending in the local economy from the occupiers of the modular homes.”The report concluded: “Taking these factors into account, it is considered that the proposal should be approved subject to conditions.”