Cornwall Council plans more supported housing by 2050

The homes are likely to be a mix of new build and improvement of the current housing stock

A strategy to provide hundreds of improved homes for the most vulnerable people in Cornwall by 2050 has been unveiled by the county council.

Cornwall Council's initiative aims to meet, among others, the needs of the homeless, young parents, the elderly, and those with learning difficulties.

It is backed by the council health and adult social care scrutiny committee.

However, one councillor cautioned that the authority was already struggling to meet needs for ordinary housing.

The council's Conservative cabinet needs to give the plan its approval before it gets under way.

It has been developed partly in response to a new law requiring local authorities to publish a supported housing needs assessment for residents.

To ensure effective implementation, the council said it would work with its local partners from the NHS, registered providers, the probation service, and community and voluntary groups to ensure the supported housing is effective.

'Live in the real world'

The initiative will likely be a mix of new builds and improvements to current housing stock.

The council estimates that Cornwall will need more than 48,000 units of supported and specialist housing by 2050, including accessible, adapted, retirement, extra care, nursing home, residential care, and fully wheelchair-adapted homes.

Councillor Andy Virr, cabinet member for adults and public health, said: "It is important that we have housing available that can meet the needs of all of Cornwall's population.

"We recognise that for some people this can be hard to access and this plan seeks to address this challenge."

Councillor Loveday Jenkin cautioned however, that the council was still struggling to deliver ordinary housing let alone creating extra care housing.

She said: "I think this is very good and I'd like to see it delivered, but we have to live in the real world here."