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Housing shortage in Portreath – really?

A dispute has flared up in Portreath where the Parish council has put forward proposals for housing on a site which a local group claims is a nature reserve.

What appears missing from the debate is whether there is a housing shortage in the parish or not. The latest census data from 2021 gives a total of 950 dwellings in the parish. However, 265 or 28% of these are not occupied for residential purposes, some will be vacant but the majority are likely to be second homes or holiday lets.

Portreath is a good example of where the growth of second homes and holiday lets limits the supply of housing for local residents. It creates the paradox of lots of housing but not for residents.

There are two options – either do nothing with the result that more dwellings will be lost for housing and there will be pressure to build more houses or change policy so that the number of second homes and holiday lets is reduced.

There is also a question as to how many luxury homes have been given permission in Portreath over the years, and why?

Details of new report below.

Proposals by a parish council to build affordable housing on former Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) barracks in Cornwall are being opposed by a climate action group which says it will destroy a vital nature reserve. Portreath Parish Council argues the land proposed for around 20 new homes is "overgrown scrubland" and is not a nature reserve. A war of words has broken out between Portreath Climate Action Network and the parish council over the possible development on land at Cambrose near the village of Bridge, where the concrete remains of the former Second World War WAAF camp still remain. The new homes, if approved, would be managed by Coastline Housing with a condition that preference would be given to local people within the parish, where 56 people are currently on the housing register.”

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