Goldsworthy: "time for action on affordable housing"

1.49.56pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 12th Sep 2006

Local MP Julia Goldsworthy attended a high profile Conference in Falmouth last week, whose aim was to tackle the specific difficulties that stand in the way of affordable housing in Cornwall.

The Conference was organised by Falmouth Churches Together and Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum, and saw Ms Goldsworthy team up with Elinor Goodman,the Chair of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission. It was recognised that a key problem confronting home buyers in Cornwall was the market in second homes. The popularity of the "holiday home" has meant that in certain areas up to 80% of rural villages consist of second homes. This has the cumulative effect of pricing first-time buyers out of the market, and significantly hurting local services, with essential providers like the Post Office already struggling to survive.

Cornish MPs have already suggested that planning permission should be required for those seeking to purchase second homes in Cornwall - currently local authorities have no power to put their concerns about second homes into practice. Julia Goldsworthy has written a letter to Sir Michael Lyons, who is conducting a review of local government, asking him to consider giving local authorities the control to limit second home ownership in the most vulnerable rural communities.

Commenting, Julia Goldsworthy said:

"We are all aware of the problem, and this Conference has enabled us to take the first big step as a partnership towards reaching a practical solution for first-time buyers. Elinor Goodman's report has set out clearly what is needed. I have written to ministers asking for a clear response, and a timetable for implementation. We need action to avert this crisis."