Cornwall Council has been told to look at alternative sites after their bid to build pods for the homeless in a Penryn car park.

Penryn Town Council met last night (19th) to discuss the controversial plans to build six 'move on' accommodation pods in Commercial Road car park.

Cornwall Council has bought 29 ready-made 'Solohaus' pods which are immediately available to be deployed to site which are being stored at Newquay Airport. Once connected to foundation pads and services the pods are fully equipped and ready to go.

Penryn Town Council objected to the application – suggesting alternative locations for the pods.

Councillor May commented:

"If we are going to turn it down, we are supposed to offer an interim. Just across the road, you have Saracen House which has flats that have been empty for a considerable amount of time, plus Penryn Town Council's office which has been vacant for around five years. Five years Cornwall Council has been paying council tax and no rent on that property.

"Two sites that are really ripe for the picking are Brook Place where there are 20 garages that are in a deplorable state. It is a bit boggy down there but that can be overcome.

"The other site is Tanyard, Tremoughdale, there are around 10 garages that have been empty for a very long time. There is also land around the town that could be made accessible."

Penryn Town Council said they are also in the process of putting together a plan to enhance Commercial Road.

"What is the point of us employing consultants for this project when we are only going to have 31 spaces on Commercial Road? We want to make that area attractive and invite more people into the town. In essence, it will scupper any future bid we make once our new plan is ready to send out," Councillor May added.

Councillor Wenmoth stated:

"I know young couples that are due to be made homeless in the next fortnight. To me the answer is simple, and it isn't some pods. Let's get all these empty flats filled, I know these young people would be happy to decorate them. I don't see how these six pods is going to solve any problems. If anything, it will probably cause more problems due to lack of parking. Let's get these unoccupied flats sorted and local families put in them."

Committee chairman Cllr Langan said although the pods serve a good purpose they would "stir up trouble" for car parking.

Residents were invited to speak at the public meeting, with an objection from M Cant, who lives with his family next to the car park. A letter read out by a representative of Mr Cant detailed an agreement with the developers to build a driveway onto their land to ease the impact of losing the parking spaces. In the last few days, that has since been withdrawn by the developers.

"Six pods for 30% of our entire town supply of off-street car parking is not a solution to a housing crisis," the objection letter read.

Local resident Mr Watson commented:

"Removing that parking could damage the vitality of the town. You'd have residents and visitors seeking to go to other towns with more parking options."

Mr Hopkins has lived in his property on New Street for 29 years, he commented:

"In our time in Penryn, we have seen an increasing demand for on-street parking and use of the car parks. There is a real social need for housing, but it is not the need that is wrong, it is the location."

The Town Council voted unanimously to object to the proposal.

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