Letter to the Editor of the West Briton from Ian Wright

Cornwall faces an Exodus of our young people unless something is done about unaffordable housing.

I totally support Kate Tregunna’s letter to the West Briton (House prices remain out of reach of average earners; WB 18/2/2010) House prices in Cornwall are nothing short of scandalous, and are totally unaffordable for many people living here, particularly the young and those who have to get by on the minimum wage.
Housing development in Cornwall must focus on the needs to the local population . Too many developments aim at people who already own their own homes, and/ or those moving down to Cornwall. Meanwhile too many local people have to pay high rents for substandard housing and /or cannot afford to get on to the housing ladder in the first place.

The Cornish Green Party believes new housing needs to be affordable and for the people of Cornwall. Housing needs to be as environmentally friendly as possible, and where possible is built on 'brown field sites' so our countryside is not destroyed , and our county‘s identity is not eroded any further.
As a priority I believe:
1. Housing must aim to rebuild our local communities . It is much better to reinvigorate our villages and towns with small scale developments, rather than for example the monstrous planned development in the Truro-Threemilestone corridor which does not serve local needs at all.
2. Housing development needs to focus on affordable part-rent/part buy housing, and 100% rentable accommodation. Tenancies need to be secure so people can build a stable homelife, rather than uncertainty about regular eviction. New housing should be aimed at those priced out of the current market (i.e the vast majority of young people or people paying exorbitant rents in the private sector).
3. We should restrict housing in tourist areas being purchased for investment/ second home/ holiday let purposes. This may be achieved by ensuring there are planning permission restrictions; additional purchase taxes for non permanent residential use, and increases in 'council tax' for such property. The objective would be to reduce house price inflation in these areas, and redevelop local communities.
4. We should consider what has occurred in the Channel Islands. where some property is reserved for the local population, and subsequently prices are kept reasonable for them. It is a good imitative where some property in Cornwall has already been restricted for people with a 'local connection', and this policy should be encouraged and expanded.

We need to look out for those who need to have a decent roof over their heads, and stop the migration of our young people from Cornwall so we can ensure a sustainable future for the people of Cornwall.