Build 50 New Houses

Where do we put 50 new houses?

According to Cornwall Council Parish Statistics and The Office of National Statistics Census Data for 2001 and 2011, the Parish of St Ive grew from 917 to 971 households. It is expected that the demand for more housing in Cornwall in general and in our parish will continue to grow. The previous growth was more than fifty households in ten years. We can expect a similar demand in the future. So where do they go?

The new Cornwall Local Plan shows the Parish of St Ive is within the new PP16 Caradon Community Network Area. This is a lot smaller than the area covered by the previous Caradon District, which no longer exists. The new Community Network Area centres on Callington and with Gunnislake, this is where most new housing is targeted.

The St Ive Parish Plan 2003 updated 2009 envisions limiting new housing to infill, and in keeping, with the exception of a small estate of low cost housing (which has since been built at St Ive Cross).

There is a view that new housing should be concentrated around towns like Liskeard and Callington, where the jobs are, since long commutes are not sustainable in a low carbon future. This appears to be the policy in the Cornwall Local Plan, But if the local jobs move to town, what will happen to the parish? Will it gradually turn into a destination for retiring pensioners from up country, and will all the young people move away?

Within the parish, Pensilva is nearly large enough to be a town. It has most of the housing, and the largest industrial estate in the parish, but narrow roads with heavy goods vehicles and commuter traffic near capacity. The hamlets of St Ive Cross, St Ive Church End, St Ive Parkfield and St Ive Keason have good communication with the A390, but little industry. Should future expansion be along the A390, or should the roads to Pensilva be widened to allow its growth?

If these issues are important to you please comment.