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Search forNew homes are needed but these are too tall – residents
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 16:15
People packed a meeting of Luxulyan Parish Council on Thursday to put forward opinions about the development.
The plans for St Cyriac, would include 13 affordable houses – four of which would be social housing.
Cllr Maggie Wright said due to concerns raised about properties three storeys tall, the council voted against the application.
She said: "The council is not against the application in principal – people agree we need affordable housing in Luxulyan.
"Members of the public did raise concerns that the three-storey properties would cause an obliteration of view.
"We have been trying to get affordable housing since 2000.
"Our young people deserve this – if we don't find homes for our young people the village and the school will die and we will be left with a village full of pensioners."
Mrs Wright, 63, who used to be head teacher of Carclaze Infants School, said when she first came to Luxulyan it was a lively, mixed community.
She said Quay Developers had been very good and worked closely with the council to design a development in keeping with the village.
Three of the 19 plots have been allocated for sale on the open market to contribute towards the affordable homes.
The remaining three properties would be acquired by Quay Developments, based in Carlyon Bay.
Quay Development director, Nick Witcomb said: "We met with planners and they did not seem to have a problem with the three-storey houses, which is why it went into the planning application.
"But there is strong feeling from the parish council and we have gone back to the drawing board to amend the three-storey properties to two-storey so hopefully we achieve a positive outcome for everyone.
"We want to continue to work closely with the parish council and Restormel Borough Council on this."
In 2001, the Restormel Local Plan set a target of 15 affordable houses to be built in the village. So far none have been built.
The Luxulyan Parish Plan highlights affordable housing as a high priority for the village.
Quay Developments investigated the need for affordable housing in the village. Everyone who replied to their questions was aged between 18 and 44, of whom 48% live with their parents and 52% live in rented accommodation.
The mixed development includes affordable houses in three groups – one, two and three-bedroom houses – which would be built in terraces.
The site is known locally by two names, Lower Mill Park and Beswetherick Field.
The entire development will be served by a sewage treatment plant and soakaway facility at the south west end of the site.
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