Work starts on Cornwall Council’s innovative housing site

A former commercial site steeped in mining and industrial history is set to be redeveloped into a landmark housing scheme for former rough sleepers.

Planning permission has now been granted for the yard at Cowlins Mill in Penhallick Road, Carn Brea, for 10 one-bedroom modular homes, to be used as ‘move on’ accommodation to support people on their journey towards settled, permanent, homes.

Work has begun to transform a derelict former industrial site near Pool into a landmark modular housing development to help residents threatened with homelessness.

Cornwall Council’s principal contractor, Cormac, is in the process of clearing the site at Cowlins Mill, Penhallick Road, Carn Brea, ready for the installation of 10 state-of-the-art one-bedroom ZED PODS modular homes.

The new homes are designed to have the lowest possible running costs and come with living, kitchen and dining space in an open-plan layout, along with a separate bedroom and shower room.

They will be heated and supplied with hot water via a solar-assisted heat pump and solar panels will also help to offset energy consumption.

ZED PODS Chairman, Tom Northway, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Council on their first net zero carbon housing project, providing excellent quality homes for its most vulnerable residents.”

Key elements of the site’s history are being carefully preserved, including turning some of the former workshops into new walled gardens and restoring an arched stained-glass window and converting it into a clock to be mounted on the front of the new communal building. 

Other materials from the site will be incorporated into the significant planting and landscaping in the wider grounds.

The project is being supported by funding from the Government's Next Steps Accommodation Programme, which backs work to provide move-on accommodation for former rough sleepers and other single homeless people.

Read more on Cornwall Council's Press Release