A CHARITY working to end homelessness has received the keys to their new homes in Nansledan from the Duchy of Cornwall.

St Petrocs has taken over the management of the first phase of the scheme situated below Newquay Sports Centre, which provides high-quality accommodation with wrap-around support for 16 people in two four-bedroom homes and eight one-bedroom apartments.

The development, built CG Fry & Son on Duchy owned land and funded by The Duke of Cornwall’s Charitable Foundation, includes on-site counselling space for St Petrocs to provide support services for their residents.

The handover took place in Nansledan, in the company of representatives of the Duchy of Cornwall, developers CG Fry & Son and St Petrocs. Memorably, Philip Fry, managing director of CG Fry & Son, handed over the keys to Margie Ricardo, chair of St Petrocs' Board of Trustees, officially signifying the transference of the new homes to the charity.

The scheme, which was delivered in partnership with St Petrocs, the Duchy of Cornwall, The Duke of Cornwall’s Charitable Foundation, provides high-quality, low carbon homes with wraparound support, helping individuals build community connections and move towards long-term, secure housing.

The supported housing development is being delivered in connection with The Royal Foundation’s Homewards programme, a five-year initiative founded by The Duke of Cornwall to demonstrate that homelessness can be made rare, brief and unrepeated. Homewards helped to connect The Duchy with international homelessness prevention experts, and experts by experience to inform the design process of the homes.

The project provides a significant step toward tackling homelessness in Cornwall. It will provide long-term, community-led solutions by combining safe, secure accommodation with personalised support, helping people to rebuild their lives and sustain independent living.

Chief executive of St Petrocs, Henry Meacock, has received the keys to the new homes
Chief executive of St Petrocs, Henry Meacock, has received the keys to the new homes

Henry Meacock, chief executive of St Petrocs said: "This project demonstrates what can be achieved when people come together with a shared sense of purpose and a genuine desire to make a positive difference. What began as a conversation over three years ago has evolved into the delivery of a sector-leading housing scheme.

"These homes are built to stand the test of time and will make a meaningful difference to people’s lives for decades to come.”

The development has been funded by The Duke of Cornwall’s Charitable Foundation
The development has been funded by The Duke of Cornwall’s Charitable Foundation

The houses will soon welcome new residents, providing a stable foundation for individuals who have experienced homelessness and supporting them to move forward with confidence and dignity.

The Homewards Furniture Project has helped ensure residents can move into homes that are fully equipped from day one. Homes have been furnished with essential items ranging from sofas, tables and chairs to white goods and fitted kitchens following donations from Howdens, IKEA, DFS, B&Q, Bosch Home Appliances and Gordon Brown’s The Multibank charity,

Under the Duchy of Cornwall’s direction, the all-electric homes have been built to exacting low carbon standards both for the embodied carbon involved in their construction and the amount of carbon involved in running them, so that future costs for St Petrocs and environmental impact are kept to a minimum. This includes ultra low-carbon cement and blockwork, super-insulated hemp-filled wall panels and solar panels.