We have recently received a £30,000 government grant which will go towards our Old Vicarage affordable housing project. The grant is one of five locations in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly sharing over £200,000 of funding towards providing 42 new affordable homes.

The money for the town will help us with our renovation project to turn the Old Vicarage Flats on Street-an-Pol into six units of affordable rental accommodation for key workers and other local people.

Jill Block (St Ives CLT secretary), said “We are delighted to be part of this scheme which has enabled us to do more preparatory work on the Old Vicarage Flats project.

“Part of the £30,000 grant will also mean we can investigate what can be done to improve the future efficiency of the building.

“This is a vital piece of work as we have to balance keeping the style and heritage of the building which was built in the 19th Century and being able to heat the flats in the 21st Century.”

The announcement by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Community came on Friday 25th March 

The £4million Community Housing Fund (CHF) programme will help cover a range of costs incurred in the planning process – including paying for searches, administration or legal fees, design work and planning applications. 

Once planning permission is granted, community groups can fund the build through the Government’s Affordable Homes Programme, a Housing Association or developer, or via a bank loan.

The new homes supported by the fund will be delivered through organisations, such as Community Land Trusts or housing co-operatives, meaning they stay under the control of the community.

Housing Minister the Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP said “Part of our Levelling Up mission is to build the quality homes that communities want and need. Community-led housing is a great way to ensure local housing needs are met by putting local people in the driving seat.

“It is about residents playing a leading and lasting role creating genuinely affordable homes which regenerate and restore pride in communities.” 

The government says community-led housing also helps improve the design and construction quality of homes using modern methods and gives more opportunity for smaller housebuilders to work on projects and grow local economies.

Tom Chance from Community-Led Homes added: “Community-led housing groups are rooted in their communities and truly understand local housing needs. There are so many fantastic community-led housing projects planned across the country. This programme will help many of these projects come to fruition. 

Over the fund will help deliver 52 housing projects from Cornwall to Berwick-upon-Tweed.