FAQs
ABOUT TREVETH
What is Treveth?
Treveth, the Cornish word for ‘Homestead’, is a B Corp accredited partnership business set up by Cornwall Council in April 2019 to create new homes and commercial development to benefit people who live and work in Cornwall.
Who owns Treveth?
Treveth is 99% owned by Cornwall Council and 1% by the Corserv Group Limited. All of the profits generated from our activities are returned to our partners.
Why was Treveth set up?
Treveth was established through Cornwall Council’s determination to improve Cornish people’s lives. Our role is to assist the Council in delivering its objectives of improved housing, economic growth and job creation.
What makes Treveth’s homes different?
Treveth’s objective is to improve the quality of new homes in Cornwall, especially in the private rented market. Our homes exceed current minimum space standards, across all tenures, and are designed to help reduce the running costs for occupants through the use of low carbon technologies including solar panels and sustainable energy solutions.
What tenures are available?
Treveth’s homes are available to rent or buy, and we plan to offer shared ownership so there are no affordability ‘gaps’ in our developments. Our housing schemes will fulfil Local Plan requirements for affordable homes, with schemes generally including an element of homes for open market sale, and the remainder for private rent. This may differ from scheme to scheme depending on what the local market requires. Treveth are committed to each of our developments, long term, through the continued ownership of our rental properties and the wider management of our schemes to ensure our sites are maintained to the highest standards.
Why does Treveth offer three-year tenancies as standard?
Cornwall has a big problem with seasonality of the private rented market which results in short term tenancies, large fluctuations in rent payable between summer and off-season all of which has an impact on occupier stability. This makes it difficult for people to put down roots in their communities if they can only occupy a property for six months.
Treveth rental properties have leases that last three years, and if tenants want to renew at the end of that period then they will be given every opportunity to do so. This allows individuals and families to grow in the communities they live in.
ABOUT PROPOSALS FOR TREYEW ROAD
What is proposed for the site?
Treveth acquired the site from Cornwall Council in April 2024. Our proposals will provide new housing for local people set within generous areas of established amenity green space.
How many affordable homes would be built?
It is proposed that 25% of the development will be delivered as affordable housing. This is in line with Cornwall Council’s Local Plan policy for the Truro area.
How do we know homes will be for local people?
Treveth’s lettings policy prioritises local people first when renting its properties, with its developments aimed at households who have a local link either through residency, employment, or close family. This policy is also extended to homes for sale. To date, across Treveth’s developments, 100 per cent of lettings have been to local people. All affordable homes are allocated to people on Cornwall Council’s Homechoice register, who must also demonstrate local links in the same way.
Will the new homes be of good quality and in character with the area?
Treveth’s ambition is to provide high quality homes that achieve net zero carbon emissions All Treveth homes are designed to be accessible and adaptable. Fossil fuel-free heating, upgraded insulation, features such as solar panels and sustainable heat sources, including air source heat pumps, contribute to an overall low energy strategy and lower running costs, also helping tackle fuel poverty.
The Treyew Road development will be a bespoke design, bringing a new identity to this area of Truro and will use the established landscape led setting of the site to deliver a high quality scheme that encourages community living with well managed public open spaces.
What provision will be made for increased demand on local services and amenities?
The development will be required to make financial contributions to local education and health provision through Section 106 contributions, as defined by the local authority.
What happens next and what are the timescales?
Treveth will take into account all comments and feedback from this event before submitting planning applications in January 2025.
