2024 was my first year as Chair of CCLT and was also a very challenging year for the affordable housing sector as a whole, with construction inflation outstripping government grant levels, and many developers curtailing their investment in new schemes.

A change of government has brought with it fresh ambition and impetus to the whole sector – but it will take a while for this to feed through enough to make smaller community-led rural projects that we facilitate viable again.

One thing that has not changed is the depth of the housing crisis in Cornwall, and whilst we have had to look carefully at our own costs and focus primarily on the schemes which have the potential to have spades in the ground in 2025, we hope to retain our position as a first point of call for groups who have a willingness and desire to address the housing needs of their local communities.

Our new slimmed down Development Team consists of Jennifer Hawkins (working part-time Mon-Weds) and Pattie Richmond, supported on Finance by Steve Goulston and Sue Floyd-Norris and on Admin by Sharon Davey.

From January, our office in Penzance will be closed, but our email continues to be monitored Monday to Thursday as does our phoneline 01736 334672.

Please note that CCLT will be closed for Christmas and the New Year from 5pm on Friday 20th December to 8.30am on Monday 6th January during which no one will be available to answer your queries either on email or via calls.

We will keep all our supporters informed as we evolve during the coming year and we wish you all a peaceful Christmas-time and a positive start to the New Year.

Dominic Fairman
Chair