A small rural community in Cornwall is receiving a much-needed boost to it’s supply of affordable homes, as 16 new affordable homes, including 11 for social rent will be ready for residents by Summer 2026. The new homes will provide a mix of one-, two-, three-and four-bedroom houses, flats and bungalows for social rent and shared ownership, enabling local people to stay within the area and helping maintain a balanced, thriving village population.
Built by local contractor Classic Builders (South West) Ltd, the homes sit on a small plot of land outside the usual planning local development boundary. The site was brought forward to meet local housing need, reflecting the growing challenge rural communities face in retaining residents in the face of house price rises and limited affordable options.
Of the 16 homes, 11 will be available for social rent and five homes will be made available for shared ownership purchase through PCH’s sales brand, SO Living. The homes for social rent will be prioritised to those with a local connection to the parish of St Cleer before extending to neighbouring parishes including Dobwalls, St Neot, Altarnun, North Hill, Linkinhorne, St Ives, Pensilva and Menheniot, ensuring those with established ties to the area have the opportunity to remain. 91 households are currently on Cornwall Council’s social housing register with a local connection to St Cleer.
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Tina Olver, Development Manager at PCH, said: “We’re pleased to be delivering more affordable homes in a small community in Cornwall. But this development is about much more than delivering homes. It’s about keeping communities like Darite viable for the long term. Rural villages are under real pressure from a lack of affordable housing, so schemes like this are essential to make sure local people can continue to live, work and raise families here.
“We are working closely with partners, including Classic Builders Ltd to bring a site that directly responds to local need, and it’s fantastic to see the positive impact already, from supporting the local school to creating high-quality, energy efficient homes that we hope the community will be proud to live in.”
Councillor Peter La Broy, Cornwall Council cabinet member for housing, said: “Many people are living in either unsuitable or temporary accommodation across Cornwall and it’s clear we need more affordable homes in a variety of tenures to suit the needs of our residents.
“While there is no quick fix to Cornwall’s housing crisis, we are committed to doing what we can to support building more affordable homes in the areas where they are most needed. Darite is a great example of how our partnerships with registered providers such as Plymouth Community Homes is making a difference for our residents.”
Beyond housing delivery, the project is also supporting local learning and skills. Earlier this month, pupils from Darite Primary Academy visited the site, gaining hands on experience on construction, site safety and career opportunities, helping to connect the development to the next generation living in the village.
Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England, said: “As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting Plymouth Community Homes to achieve its ambitions.
“This development in Darite is a prime example of how we work collaboratively with partners to achieve our mission to build much needed new communities that people can be proud to call home.”
