THERE was a remarkable turnout of 80 for the Chyryn Drive Housing drop-in meeting at the Memorial Hall in St Breward on February 21.

Twenty-one new properties ranging from one-bedroom flats to a four-bedroom house are currently being completed by developers Galliford Try.

They have worked with DCH (Devon and Cornwall Housing) and Cornwall Council on the development, which they hope to complete in late spring or early summer.

Work on the development, which will include 11 rental properties and 10 shared-ownership properties — started in May 2017 but there’s already substantial interest in them.

Situated six miles to the north of Bodmin and in Bodmin Moor, St Breward is a village with a heartbeat — having its own toddler group, primary school, post office, football club and two doctors surgeries.

Running from 4pm to 7pm, there was a steady influx of interested parties who got the chance to have a look at the plans and talk to representatives from DCH, which is overseeing the allocation process.

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for St Teath, St Breward and Delabole, Dominic Fairman, told the Post the new housing will be a great thing for the village.

Cllr Fairman said: “When I came into the job in July 2016 the application had already been part done. Initially there was scepticism in the village about the density of the site, which is owned by Cornwall Council. It had two planning applications before, one for six bungalows and the second for 12 but neither were viable to build.

“We worked with the parish council, the developers (Galliford Try), Devon and Cornwall Housing and Cornwall Council’s affordable housing team to reassure the parish council around the density and affordability to the point where the parish council were happy to support the scheme.

“I’m extremely pleased that this development has come to fruition and the turnout for today’s event just goes to show the need for affordable housing for young people in the area.

“When I approached the headteacher at St Breward, Lee Bacchus about it he emphasised to me the importance of keeping young families in the village and the opportunity for both social housing and shared ownership should enable future generations of families to stay in the village.”

St Breward Parish Council chairman, Denis Lusby, is also happy with the idea but knows that there are going to be many people left disgruntled.

He said: “Before this planning application went ahead, DCH and Cornwall Council representatives came to parish council meetings. We argued for a few things such as making sure that each dwelling has two car parking spaces instead of one but we’ve had a pretty minor influence over it. But to be fair to Cornwall Council and the developers, they have listened to us and we eventually supported it. Galliford Try have bent over backwards during the construction so far, so we’re thankful to them for that.

“The question is whether it’ll be totally affordable but there are 21 units for rent or shared equity and for young people that housing will be ideal.

“However, there’s a big demand in St Breward as it’s a very popular village and the prices are quite high compared to other local villages.

“At the parish council we’ve argued on the people’s behalf with DCH and Cornwall Council to try and get the value of the houses lower because at the moment many people can’t get on the housing ladder because of how expensive it is.”

One of the parish council’s main concerns was whether the local school could cater for the potential influx of students.

Cllr Lusby, said: “We spoke to the school about our concerns of extra pupils. However the headteacher said it’d be fine and the development should also help the pub and other groups.

“I think overall it’ll be a positive, land was originally going to be for six homes but to get 21 is good. It’s going to be a plus for the village with the school and so on but I just feel a bit sorry for the people who don’t get the housing.

“There’s a lot of interest in them as seen by the numbers who turned up to the drop-in and it’s also surprising to me how popular St Breward is for people all over the country.

“There’s going to be some very difficult decisions made but we’re hoping as a parish council that it’ll be the local people who get them.”

All allocations, which have to be completed online, will be made subject to applicants meeting an ‘Area Local Connection’ — a strong local connection to the parish of St Breward (first priority) or surrounding villages St Tudy, Michaelstow, Advent, Davidstow, Altarnun and Blisland.

Joe Kay has lived in the village all his life and lives in the estate already.

He said: “We needed homes but I think 21 is probably too many, as they’re just going to be cramming them in a bit, but I’m on the end bungalow so I’m not going to be affected too much.

“This has been in the pipeline for about 12 years but it’s one of the most difficult sites to build on. Over the last two or three years it became a reality and I now just hope it goes to local people to make it a good thing.

“At the moment we stand to lose local amenities and having this will hopefully help keep things such as the doctors surgery.”

Joe’s grandson Robbie Kay and his girlfriend are hopeful of moving into a two-bedroom flat.

Robbie said: “We’re looking for two bedrooms which would preferably be rental but we’d possibly look into shared ownership so we’re not sure yet.

“Grandad lives up there already and I’ve lived in St Breward all my life. It’s a lovely place to live and somewhere which would be the perfect place to start a family. Whatever happens I just hope that it’s the right people who get it.”

Nineteen-year-old Shannon French has lived in St Breward for the last seven years and is hopeful of renting one of the two one-bedroom flats.

She said: “This is going to be good for the village — we haven’t had any new housing in ages. For people who are younger, at the moment we can’t afford to buy a house, but to get the chance to rent one is a really good opportunity.”

Caroline Ralph runs the St Breward Baby and Toddler Group and was at the drop-in session on behalf of her daughter, who is looking for a one-bedroom property with her partner.

She said: “I’m hoping that young people can come in as there’s a lot of older people in the village.

“However, it looks pretty promising with the amount of young people and especially mums who are coming to this. Lots of young people coming in would help the toddler group and the primary school.”

The site manager for the development, Colin Benny is reluctant to set a specific date for the completion, but says it has gone well considering.

Mr Benny said: “We started back in May and it’s been good. There have been a few weather problems because we’re so high up and a lot of the outside work is weather dependent, such as the cranes and the building work.

“But we hope to have got the last of the roofs on [by the end of this week] and then we can move forward and hopefully get on with the rest of the site such as finishing the landscaping and groundworks as well as the parking, steps and the whole of the outside.

“We’re trying to push it on as fast we can but I don’t want to set an exact date at the moment.”

Mr Benny had high praise for the locals who have made his life a lot easier.

He said: “The site is very heavily granite-based and we had to use a high-powered pecker which was worked around. We came to an agreement with the users of the holiday lets around it and the locals to only do it between 9pm and 4.30pm. The residents have been fantastic and been so friendly and I’ll genuinely miss it when I go.

“I’d also like to give a big shout out to local artist Colin Thomas who’s spent massive amounts of times painting the development since we started. He’s been a big inspiration on site and he’s interacted well with the workers and made everyone’s day that much better.”

DCH will eventually decide the tenants of the properties.

Tamsyn Trevail, who is a lettings team leader at the company, explained how the rental process works.

She said: “There are 11 houses to rent and they’re publicised for a month. People go and register to Cornwall Homechoice, which is managed by Cornwall Council and that helps fast track the application and sends off your details and housing situation. The properties are going out to bid and be advertised within the next couple of weeks so people can make any changes to their application.

“Once Cornwall Homechoice receives this, they then put the applicants in a band with A meaning there’s an emergency need and E meaning no there’s no need at all.

“Every week we advertise our homes through Cornwall Homechoice just for rental properties like any other social landlord.

“People then only get one bid a week which is open from Thursday to Monday and then I come in and look at everyone who’s applied. I then look at what band they’re in as well seeing how long they’ve been registered. With the situation here at St Breward I also look at the local connection by going into each application and if they do I would consider them, if they don’t I’ll skip over them because they’re not eligible.

“Then for example if there’s six properties available I’ll shortlist six bidders and each of them has to pass the landlord verification process which includes affordability, local connection, a home visit to people and references from present and current landlords.

“Once they pass this we can then offer them a tenancy.”

Clare Nugent is a sales consultant at DCH and explained how the shared ownership works.

Of the ten plots, one has already been sold leaving four three-bed properties and five two-bedroom houses.

She said: “Once they’ve completed their application form and emailed it in we’ll assess them for affordability and connection which then will be approved by Help to Buy South West’s manager and then we offer it to them.

“Everyone gives a first, second and third choice and then they have to put down a £500 reserve fee once offered, although once that’s completed it’ll be used up as rent.

“The prices range from £185,000 to £200,000 for the two beds while the 40% share ranges from £74,000 to £80,000 although if someone wants to they can raise the share to 75%.

“The three-bed process range from £230,000 to £235,000 with the 40% share ranging from £92,000 to £94,000.”

To find out more about the new properties at Chyryn Drive, go to www.dchnewhomes.com/featured-developments/chyryn-drive/