Opportunity for low-cost housing at no cost to the taxpayer

I write in response to the back page article in the May 13 edition of the Cornish Times, namely the piece entitled 'Low Cost Homes Plan a Cynical attempt to beat normal rules'. The piece appears to have relied heavily upon the opinion given by resident M Holmes. This information is fundamentally wrong and patently biased. A careful examination of the Caradon District Council planning department's recommendations will show that a consent to build would only be granted if a Section 106 agreement were to be signed by the applicant. This would have the effect of binding the land in perpetuity to the exclusive use of low cost housing whether for rent or sale. The term low cost housing has a specific meaning and the Section 106 agreement defines the type of tenant/purchaser and sets a ceiling upon rental and purchase prices. There is no cynicism in this application, it is an attempt to provide low-cost housing upon a parcel of land which is surrounded by houses but lies on the wrong side of a development boundary. Caradon District Council in their policy H12 recognise that in order to encourage the building of low-cost housing they can contribute to the viability of such developments by granting consent to build upon land that would not otherwise qualify for development, that is the situation at St John The objections by the parishioners of St John are based upon the well-recognised principle of nimbysm and an attitude of 'I'm all right Jack'. The general view seems to be that people, farm workers, nurses, gardeners etc, who do not earn sufficient money to buy property should be excluded from St John. The irony of a village with a high proportion of 'incomers' bonding together to exclude locally-born low wage earners seems lost on the well-placed citizens of St John. If refused, Caradon District Council will have missed a unique opportunity to facilitate low-cost housing at absolutely no cost to the taxpayer.

P KEEFE (via e-mail)