Councilors from across Cornwall came together to discuss affordable housing issues at a conference aimed at sharing practical information and debunking some common myths.
The event was organized by the Cornwall Association of Local Councils, Coastline Housing and Ocean Housing and attracted over 100 participants.
Experts from the community housing sector across Cornwall gave presentations, participated in workshops and answered some key questions.
Chris Weston, development manager at Coastline Housing, said: “We all know that there is a severe housing crisis in Cornwall and that it needs to be addressed.” However, launching a new development can sometimes be complex and involve a range of issues on the part of local communities and the councilors that represent them.
“It was great to be able to hold an event where everyone in the room could ask these questions openly and honestly and get answers from people with experience in the field. We hope it has really helped increase understanding of affordable housing and build new relationships in the future.”
The event included presentations from Allister Young, CEO of Coastline Housing; Olly Monk, portfolio owner for planning and housing at Cornwall Council; Among others, Sarah Roberts, Rural Housing Enabler at Cornwall Council and Andrew George, CEO of Cornwall Community Land Trust.
The workshops covered topics such as site identification and development, the role of design and planning in a project, and examining delivery and allocation processes in building local homes for local people.
Those interested in viewing the event slides and notes can find them on the Community Association of Local Councils website.