PLANS to provide accommodation for the homeless in Newquay have been submitted to planners.

Homeless charity St Petrocs has applied for planning permission for a change of use from C4 HMO to sui generis HMO at 12A Atlantic Road.

The proposal includes the addition of one bedroom to change the property from a six bedroom dwelling to a seven bedroom dwelling.

Red Planning, on behalf of St Petrocs, in the planning statement, said: “The HMO will be used to provide accommodation for homeless people in Cornwall, by the charity St Petrocs.

“This application proposes changes to the internal layout of the dwelling, however no changes will be made to the external appearance of the dwelling.

“In 2023, nearly 3,500 households received support from Cornwall Council with either homelessness prevention or temporary accommodation.

“Of this number, 360 people stayed in a St Petrocs house, with an average stay of 31 weeks. This shows the desperate need for more HMO’s to support people who require accommodation. Every bed space counts.

“In Cornwall’s partnership approach to preventing homelessness and rough sleeping Strategy 2020-2025, a number of challenges and barriers were identified through consultation and engagement sessions, with engagement with a number of key stakeholders presenting the opportunity for “providing accommodation of the right type and in the right places”.

“Homelessness was also identified in Cornwall Council’s wider ‘Housing Strategy 2030’, where ‘rising levels of homelessness’ was of great concern. From feedback, it was found that preventing homelessness was ranked fourth out of 10 in terms of what was viewed as the most important challenge to address, showing the intensity of the issue.

“One solution set out in the strategy is ‘provide accommodation that supports residents individual needs.’

“This proposal supports this aim by providing more available bedrooms for homeless people, in a well-connected town which provides employment opportunities and any necessary health and well-being facilities they may need.

“Cornwall has experienced a shortage of affordable housing for many years, with the supply of housing for local people continuing to be squeezed due to an increased number of properties being used as holiday accommodation.

“This growth of holiday lets and second homes in Cornwall has placed increased pressures on rental availability for local people, forcing more people into homelessness and emergency accommodation.

“In the last 12 months, over 8,500 households approached Cornwall Council for help with housing due to this shortage of affordable housing.

“An increase of HMO’s run by organisations such as St Petrocs helps provide affordable accommodation for homeless people in Cornwall.

“This proposal therefore supports policy by addressing local housing imbalances, and providing affordable housing for local people.

“The property at Atlantic Road is currently operating as a HMO, on a street with no other HMO’s. The proposal will would not harm the local character, as the appearance of the property will not be changing, as no external works are taking place.

“Also, the addition of one bedroom will not pose any significant additional noise or disturbance. Waste storage and fire safety measures are included in the plans, and off-street parking is not required as the tenants typically do not have cars.

“To conclude, the change of use from an HMO of six bedrooms to a seven bedroom sui-generis use, should be supported as the application complies with policy and provides further affordable housing to meet a local need.

“The house not only supports a local affordable housing need but is specifically aiming to provide accommodation for homeless people in Cornwall, in the well-connected and prosperous town of Newquay.

“With the dwelling having an existing use as a HMO, there will be no visual impacts, noise disturbance or need for supporting infrastructure, meaning support should be given to the application.”