Work on two long-awaited affordable dwellings is getting under way in Hugh Town this week.
The accommodation – one two-bedroom and one one-bed – is going up at Well Cross Yard. The properties are being built and let by Cornwall Rural Housing Association. This scheme follows another key housing project at Porthcressa Flats.
‘It’s been an even longer haul than it’s been at Porthcressa to get Well Cross off the ground,’ said Community Services Chairman Richard McCarthy. ‘It was 10 years ago when I first got on the Council and it was the year before that the decision the yard site should be used for affordable housing was taken by colleagues.’
Cornwall Rural obtained planning consent to put up these two single-storey dwellings back in 2007 under a Section 106 agreement which allowed only existing tenants on the islands or those on the Council waiting list to move in.
‘It’s fair to say that seeing things through in what is a comparatively modest development, even in island terms, has required more than a little patience on everyone’s part. But speaking personally I’m hoping the new builds will encourage the freeing up of a couple of larger, family homes elsewhere on St Mary’s,’ he added.