Housing: Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

The debate was initiated by Andrew George, the Member of Parliament for St Ives, who raised the pressing issue of providing affordable housing in the housing emergency-ridden communities of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. George highlighted the severe housing problems and homelessness in the region, noting that the public purse is contributing to the injustices by providing tax breaks and COVID-19 aid to holiday home owners. George urged the Minister to allow Cornwall to have devolved powers to set targets to reduce housing need, rather than just increase house building, as the current approach has failed to address the underlying issues. He argued that the new housing targets bake in demand for second and holiday homes, which drives up land prices and makes it difficult for local charities and housing associations to acquire land for affordable homes. George advocated expanding the use of rural exception sites and community-led housing initiatives as more effective ways to deliver genuinely affordable homes for local people. Responding, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook acknowledged the acute housing crisis in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, driven in part by the proliferation of second homes and short-term holiday lets. Pennycook stated the government's intention to strengthen support for rural affordable housing, including through the planning system, and to consider giving local authorities more powers to address the pressures from second homes and holiday lets. He committed to further engagement with Cornish MPs to ensure the government's policies can effectively meet the housing needs of local communities. Other MPs, such as Jayne Kirkham from Truro and Falmouth and Caroline Voaden from South Devon, intervened to reinforce the severity of the housing crisis in their own constituencies, which face similar challenges from second homes and holiday lets driving up prices and reducing the availability of affordable housing for local residents. They urged the Minister to take robust action to address these issues.