Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) is delivering five new affordable homes for social rent in Widegates, South East Cornwall, supporting local people in need of affordable housing and helping people with strong community ties to remain in the area.
The energy-efficient three-bedroom homes, being built by Ease Homes SW Ltd, our first with the local developer, will be available for social rent and prioritised for those with a connection to Morval parish before extending to neighbouring parishes across South East Cornwall, including Looe.
These new homes are close to the Cornish coastline and the harbour town of Looe, with the nearest local primary and secondary schools located just three miles away. The homes remain accessible to Plymouth, Truro and Saltash by bus, with Looe and Liskeard served by train. As well as its convenient location, the development is surrounded by rolling hills and green fields.
The homes will be delivered thanks to funding from the Government’s Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-2036, with PCH being one of just 33 housing associations chosen nationally by Homes England to become a Strategic Partner through the programme, to support the delivery of 1,500 affordable homes over the next decade.
Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England, said: “Plymouth Community Homes is one of just 33 Strategic Partners chosen nationally to help deliver the government's £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, and this development in Widegates marks a significant milestone as the first scheme to be awarded funding under the new programme.
"These five new energy-efficient homes for social rent will make a real difference for local people, particularly those with strong ties to Morval parish and the surrounding areas, who are struggling to find affordable housing in their own communities.
"We look forward to seeing Plymouth Community Homes continue to build on their strong track record of delivery across Cornwall and Devon as they progress towards their target of 1,500 new affordable homes over the next decade.”
The scheme marks PCH’s first development in Widegates and strengthens PCH’s presence across Cornwall, complementing our existing homes available for rent and shared ownership in Liskeard, Saltash and Callington. It represents a further investment in Cornwall as part of PCH’s management of more than 16,000 homes across Devon and Cornwall.
The energy-efficient features of the new development include air source heat pumps and charging points for electric vehicles, and it will also benefit from private parking and landscaping.
Jo Agnew, Project Manager at Plymouth Community Homes, said: “We’re delighted to be delivering a scheme of five homes for social rent in Widegates, close to our other homes in South East Cornwall.
“This development represents an exciting opportunity for us to support a new community, and we’re looking forward to working alongside a new development partner to provide high-quality affordable homes for local residents.”
Dafydd Hollyman, Construction Director at Ease Homes SW Ltd, said: “We’re really pleased to be delivering Widegates with Plymouth Community Homes, and we’d like to thank them and Exeter Finance for the opportunity to bring this scheme forward.
“It has taken a lot of work and commitment from everyone involved to get Widegates to this point, so we’re delighted that we’ve now got the scheme over the line and can concentrate on delivering the homes which are programmed for delivery in early 2027.
“We genuinely hope this will be the first of many projects that Ease Homes and PCH deliver together.”
Councillor Peter La Broy, Cornwall Council cabinet member for housing, added: “Many residents are struggling to find a home in the communities where they grew up, work or have family connections and it's clear that more affordable homes are needed. Developments like this make an important contribution to tackling the housing crisis - providing safe, secure and affordable accommodation as well as helping residents to remain part of their communities."
There are currently 25 households on Cornwall Council’s Homechoice Housing Register with a local connection to Morval parish.
Elsewhere in the region, PCH is delivering 48 homes in St Austell, their first homes in the area and is bringing 16 homes to Darite, a small Cornish village near Liskeard.
The first homes which are to be offered for social rent will be available in Spring 2027.
All available homes to rent in Cornwall are advertised on Cornwall Homechoice, a partnership of local social landlords. To bid for a property or to be considered for a tenancy, registration will need to be completed using their online application form.
Photo caption: Matt Robins, Quantity Surveyor at Ease Homes SW Ltd, Tim Hoppenbrouwers, Associate Director at Gates Consultants, Adam Lewis, Head of Development Finance at Exeter Finance, Gary Walters, Clerk of Works, at Plymouth Community Homes, Natasha Azlee, Assistant Project Manager at Plymouth Community Homes,Jo Agnew, Project Manager at Plymouth Community Homes, Dan Stones, Head of Development at Ease Homes SW Ltd, Ben Hobbs Assistant Project Manager at Ease Homes SW Ltd & Dafydd Hollyman, Construction Director at Ease Homes SW Ltd (left – right).
