Eighteen new council homes in St Anns Chapel will soon be ready for new tenants to move in.

The homes will be managed by Cornwall Housing and are for social rent. They’ll be advertised in phases on Cornwall Homechoice as they become available.

Cornwall Housing’s development and regeneration manager, Michelle Richards, said: ’We are really pleased with how these new homes are progressing.

’We have already been able to advertise four of the one-bed flats on Cornwall Homechoice for applicants to bid on.

’The homes are built to a high standard, and we know that fuel poverty is a real issue in Cornwall, so along with an efficient gas central heating system - all the homes are well insulated to ensure optimum energy efficiency.’

The 18 new builds consist of eight one-bed flats, six two-bed bed houses, three three-bed houses and one four-bed house.

All properties will have an allocated parking space and small garden area.

Cornwall Council cabinet member for homes, Andrew Mitchell, said: ’Demand for decent social housing in Cornwall is very high, so I am pleased that these new council-funded homes will go some way to addressing that demand.

’The new homes in St Anns Chapel are not only of a high quality, but they will be set at a social rent for local people in Cornwall. We are looking forward to having all 18 new properties completed with tenants settling in and making a home.’

Cornwall Housing’s Lydia Stevens said: ’These homes are being built for those on the housing register who have a local connection to the parish of Calstock.

’Unfortunately, on the first round of bidding for the one-bed flats we had very few bids from people who meet the first priority local connection to Calstock. This means that we will now be looking at applicants’ bids that meet the second priority, which is a connection to a parish adjoining Calstock.

’If you are local, we would strongly encourage you to bid on Thursday, August 10 when we will be advertising two one-bed flats and two two-bed houses on Cornwall Homechoice.’

There’s information about the process at www.cornwallhousing.org.uk/gunnislake 

The Cornwall Housing Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cornwallhousing1 will post information as and when each phase is completed and ready to be advertised on Cornwall Homechoice.