Published October 4th, 2021
Residents, business owners, and local councillors celebrated the first new homes and business premises completions at Polgrean Place on Tuesday 7 September at an event hosted by Ocean Housing.
The multi-million pound project began in 2017, when the social housing provider received funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to explore what could be done to redevelop some properties at Polgrean Place in St Blazey.
After community consultation, work started on site in January 2020 with the demolition of the existing Cornish unit flats, which are being replaced with 60 affordable homes, shops, and community space.
Ocean Housing decided to mark the occasion of the first 10 homes, shops, and community space being finished with the celebration event by inviting St Blazey Town Council, the mayor, and local councillor and chair of Cornwall Council Pauline Giles, who have all given significant support to the project.
Head of commissioning at Ocean Housing, Louise Pyle, said: “I am so proud to see these first homes and businesses completed. This is a huge milestone for us after many years of planning, and we wanted to thank the whole community and our local partners who have been so supportive of what we are doing here.
“The event was a great opportunity to show those people who have been a key part of the project’s success around the first phase. One of the new residents gave a tour of his home, and the businesses were keen to show off their new premises, which have been nice and busy since relocating.”
The Jolly Roger Fish and Chip shop and Jacqui’s Hair Salon have moved into their new locations from Landreath Place, which is now being demolished to make way for eight new homes, including four for shared ownership.
The community space, which will be run by Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C), has also been completed, and will offer community focused events and services.
All ten completed homes have been let at social rents, with the families all settled in already. The remaining 50 homes, which includes nine shared ownership, a 16 person bespoke older persons scheme for social rent, and 25 social rented flats and houses will be completed over the next 24 months.
Pauline Giles said: “I was delighted to see the lovely homes completed and occupied by local residents. Indeed, one young dad went to school with my son, so you can’t get more local than that.
“This is an exciting time for St Blazey. These properties have raised the profile and lifted spirits in our area. I look forward to seeing the next phase complete and occupied in 2022.”
For more information about Ocean Housing, visit: oceanhousing.com.
