Treveth submits planning application to bring new homes forward for local people in St. Austell
As part of its mission to bring high-quality new build homes forward for local people, Treveth has submitted a planning application for 78 dwellings at the former Cornwall Council office site on Penwinnick Road in St. Austell.
The proposal includes a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes for sale and rent, and a small commercial centre. The majority of homes will be available for open market rent to local people as part of Treveth’s mission to improve the quality of rental properties in Cornwall, particularly in the volatile private rental sector.
The properties for open market rent at Penwinnick Road will be priced in line with the local market, and the open market sale homes will not be used as second homes. Applicants must live, work in or have family connections in the immediate vicinity of the site.
Emma Rodgers, Head of Land and Planning at Treveth, commented: “After hosting several public consultations and evolving our proposals in line with community feedback, we are pleased to announce that we have now submitted a planning application to bring new homes and a commercial centre to St. Austell.
“We are proposing the majority of these new homes are for private rent, increasing the rental stock in the area and providing high-quality homes for local people to set down roots in their own community.
“Currently, our proposals do not include an affordable tenure. It became clear through our internal design and planning process that affordable housing at this site would not be financially viable due to the current cost and value gap being so marginal in the area. However, Treveth still recognise the need for homes for local people in St Austell, particularly in the open market rental market, and without the cross subsidy of affordable housing, the development is deliverable for us. This conclusion is also supported by an Independent Financial Viability assessment that has been submitted with the application.
“We are in discussions with Homes England with the intention to secure government funding post planning consent which will enable us to reintroduce a minimum of 25% affordable housing to the development which is in line with the policy requirement. We have been in consultation with key stakeholders and our plans for an application to Homes England is with their full knowledge and support. We will ensure to keep the public updated on our progress through our website and social media channels.”
To date, Treveth has delivered an average of 32% affordable housing across all of its developments, and always seek to deliver in line with policy where viability allows. Affordable Housing with a mix of affordable rent and shared ownership tenures can be found at its developments in Newquay, Bodmin, Redruth, Tolvaddon, Liskeard, Blackwater, and Connor Downs, where it is managed by in-house affordable housing provider, Perran Housing.
Treveth has safely demolished part of the site after it acquired the land at Penwinnick Road which consisted of two empty council offices, Pondhu Children’s Centre which has now relocated, and the grade II listed Pondhu House and Stables. A planning application for the refurbishment of the listed buildings on the site will shortly follow the main application.
Set within an established tree-lined border, the scheme will be designed for community living, where friendships and families can thrive. Supported by the provision of a small local commercial centre on site, helping to create job opportunities and amenities for the residents, the community living scheme will also feature enhanced green spaces, including retaining many of the established trees that are located on the now demolished former Cornwall Council offices site.
Updates on the planning application will be posted on the Treveth website and social media pages.
