Mebyon Kernow has hit out at the UK Government’s decision to impose a top-down housing target on Cornwall.

Speaking on behalf of MK, Cllr Andrew Long said:

“The Deputy Prime Minister has announced a new mandatory target, which she claims will help address the ongoing housing crisis.

“The reasons for the housing crisis are clear – the loss of council housing due to the sell-off in the 1980s and since; the subsequent lack of investment in new truly affordable homes; the negative impact of second homes and airbnbs and the buy-to-let phenomenon; the lack of meaningful controls to the planning system which largely priorities greed over need; and the lack of rent controls.

“So much needs to be done. But simply building more and more properties – most of which will be expensive open-market units – will not deal with the dysfunctional housing market that is doing such damage across our communities.

“In terms of Cornwall, the top-down target and related changes will further undermine the planning system – making it near-impossible to stop inappropriate developments going forward – while further destroying what makes Cornwall special.”

The Deputy Prime Minister has announced that there will be a new and mandatory annual target for “England” of 370,000 new housing units per annum. This is up from the Conservative’s target of 300,000 – an increase of 23% – though it should be noted that the delivery rate for last year was 235,000.

In Cornwall, the Local Plan has an annual target of 2,625. The new top-down annual target is 4,545, which would represent an astonishing increase of 73%.

Commenting further, Cllr Andrew Long said: “A 73% increase in house-building in Cornwall is not appropriate or sustainable. It is ridiculous and I would question whether it would even be achievable.

“At this time, I repeat MK’s call for meaningful devolution to Cornwall, with full control over all decisions relating to housing and planning.”