Archive for the ‘Housing’ Category
Posted on: 4th October 2020
The Conservatives see Cornwall as a developers’ paradise. Now they want to set that policy in concrete. And with a large Parliamentary majority and a pliant bunch of obedient MPs representing Cornwall there’s little to stop them… Their proposed changes to the planning system will put greed before need, accelerate volume house building and […]
Posted on: 3rd October 2020
Response to the Government’s consultation on proposed changes to the current planning system from Andrew George – Chief Executive of Cornwall Community Land Trust Dear Madam/Sir, Response to the Government’s consultation on proposed changes to the current planning system Cornwall Community Land Trust (CLT) is one of the most successful CLTs in the UK, having […]
Posted on: 1st April 2020
We should of course look for silver linings in the dark cloud of this emergency. It has brought out the very best as well as the not-so-good in people. But the best seems to be winning. And we’re winning other benefits too: Less carbon emitted to our atmosphere which is great for combatting climate […]
Posted on: 11th April 2019
Thanks to Sarah Newton MP for her significant role making the case for the crucial funding our communities need to help meet local housing need. She reinforced the need to keep this work going this week. I declare an interest as Director of Cornwall Community Land Trust. Sarah deserves particular praise for making a strong […]
Posted on: 31st January 2019
Credit to Conservative MP Heidi Allen. She appears to speak out against her own Government’s policies which have done so much to create a big rise in poverty and homelessness. Conservative MPs (including all our local MPs) have consistently voted to: cut working tax credit, slash support for the sick and disabled, reduced housing […]
Posted on: 2nd January 2019
A new year. But will it be a new dawn? We can of course hope, wish and pray. But let’s also WORK in 2019 to build a better future for young people. Health and Education Let’s save our NHS by halting the cuts and pressures. Stop private companies ‘cherry-picking’ the profitable bits. Put patients before […]
Posted on: 6th December 2018
Second and holiday homes in Cornwall will avoid paying nearly £100 million in tax this year. That’s my conclusion after analysing the latest stats I’d gathered on second home ownership. Nearly 7,000 homes which opt to pay business rates rather than higher Council tax have successfully applied for full rebate. A tax subsidy of £12.6 […]
Posted on: 3rd December 2018
Housing campaigner Andrew George has revealed new figures which indicate that tax advantages worth nearly £100 million will be granted to second and holiday homes in Cornwall this year. Of that £12.7 million is paid by Cornwall(1) to compensate second homers who use a business rate loophole. He further estimated that other tax loopholes/advantages available […]
Posted on: 9th November 2018
Pat yourselves on the back! Our campaign for a fairer housing market has forced a partial Government back down. Cornwall and the Scillies has been at the forefront of our campaign to highlight the industrial level (though lawful) tax avoidance going on in the second home sector. Growing numbers of second home investors have been […]
Posted on: 24th September 2018
Welcoming the Labour Party’s apparent new-found support for measures to clamp down on second homes, leading campaigner for the Liberal Democrats, Andrew George, said he’d be pleased to speak to them to help turn their aspirations into effective policy. Mr George, who successfully led the campaign to remove the 50% Council Tax discount for second […]