Cornish devolution would offer homes for locals lifeline

Posted on: 24th March 2015

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Andrew George, MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, today pressed the case in Parliament for Cornwall to have devolved powers to redesign its planning system and to put local housing need above land speculators’ greed and to combat the rise of second homes.

In a question to the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, Mr George asked whether the recent Liberal Democrat announcement of a promise to offer more devolved powers to Cornwall in the form of a Cornish Assembly could offer hope to thousands of local families who can’t find a decent home of their own while second homes continue to rise.

Mr George said, “Cornwall would benefit a great deal from the proposed Devolution Enabling Act, particularly when it comes to housing. It would offer the opportunity to redesign our planning system for the good of Cornwall rather than to fill the boots of land value speculators.

“Local need must be put before speculators’ greed when it comes to developing the scarce development land available in Cornwall. Furthermore, we need to have the power to put a cap on the number of second homes.”