The £ 2.25 million scheme was completed in time for local families to move in before Christmas, with twelve homes for affordable rent and six for ‘Homebuy’ shared ownership.Pupils from St Day & Carharrack School joined Ocean residents in the celebrations as Cornwall Councillor Mark Kaczmarek officially opened the scheme.
One resident was especially eager to move in:“I just had time to pick up the keys to our new home before giving birth to Jacob,” explains Lucy.“It was rather a surprise because he wasn’t due for another month – but we are all doing very well and luckily my partner only works a mile away, so he can give me a helping hand when needed.We are very excited about spending our first Christmas together as a family in our new home – it will be a very special time for us.”
David Renwick, Chief Executive of Ocean Group, is thrilled that these much needed homes are already providing some festive magic: “It’s great to meet these local families and to share in their excitement for their new homes.A new housing development is always a cause for celebration for us and at this time of the year it is even more poignant, knowing families will be together, cosy and warm when it matters to them most.”
Cornwall Council sold the site to Ocean for £ 1 to ensure that the affordable housing was available for families in the Carharrack Parish.Cornwall Councillor and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Mark Kaczmarek, championed the scheme since the former Kerrier District Council originally offered the land for development and was delighted to officially open the development: “It's taken six years and numerous meetings to get where we are today.We would never have got this far if it wasn't for the support of the parish council and the determination of myself and the previous Kerrier Council, now Cornwall Council. Ocean has delivered a high quality scheme. It's out of this world."
The Homes & Communities Agency grant funded the development to the tune of £ 725,000 and Cornwall Councilprovided £ 155,000 funding in addition to the land.The local Parish Council also supported the scheme and was involved throughout the whole planning process.Chair of Carharrack Parish Council, Jill Pooley, said: “We have worked long and hard for this, together with Cornwall Council and Ocean Housing.We are delighted to see these homes now open and occupied with young and growing families from the village.”
The new housing development includes an area of open space and Ocean will be asking residents what they would like to see in this area.“We are very keen to help the community develop and to make the neighbourhood as welcoming and enjoyable for all the families who live here.Once the residents have had time to settle in we will be asking them what they would like in terms of landscaping and additional features such as seating areas, ” explains David.“And it doesn’t end there.The demand for these homes has been so great that we have already started working together with Cornwall Council on plans for a Phase Two, which could provide a further twelve local families with affordable homes.”
