A COMMUNITY has celebrated the handing over of the first keys to a home that is part of a new affordable housing development.

The team behind the development of Buttercup Field in Poundstock, has seen the first keys handed over to a local resident, signalling an opportunity for people looking to rent in the community to take advantage of the new affordable housing scheme.

The Buttercup Field development consists of eight dwellings in total, including one four-bed house, two three-bed homes, two two-bed homes, one two-bed bungalow and two one-bed homes.

The development was completed in December, 2017, and on Friday, December 8, the first set of keys to one of the eight dwellings was handed over to a local resident.

Each of the homes benefits from electric heating and photovoltaic panels, insulation and double glazing, and also feature private gardens and off-street parking.

The development, with eight properties available to rent, was undertaken by Cornwall Rural Housing Association, supported by Homes and Communities Agency and Cornwall Council, and was expected to be completed in August of 2017.

However, with some planning complications, the development’s completion date was pushed along to December.

Cornwall Councillor for the Poundstock ward, Cllr Nicky Chopak, said of the new local development: “I was privileged to be at the handing over of the first keys at Buttercup Field of the affordable housing available for rent for local people with a connection to Poundstock, provided by Cornwall Rural Housing.

“These were eight houses, which have taken some time to be built due to planning issues, but with over 800 applications, of which over 50 had a local connection, this development not only shows it is desperately needed, but also shows more are needed.

“I look forward to working with Cornwall Rural Housing to ensure further homes are provided for North Cornwall and to work alongside Poundstock Parish Council to ensure the neighbourhood plan provides much needed development land for solutions to housing demand.”

Poundstock is currently developing its neighbourhood development plan, covering Poundstock and its surrounding areas such as Bangors, Helscott, Millook, Treskinnick Cross, Tregole, Trewint and Widemouth Bay.

The plan will create planning policies for the area in relation to use of land and developments in the neighbourhood.

Cornwall Rural Housing Association has an aim to provide affordable housing solutions for Cornish communities and does this by working with local people and organisations, particularly in areas with less than 3,000 people in its population.

The association has developments in various areas including rural areas around Bude, Launceston and near Camelford.