MP Andrew George has said that “local housing need should come before developers’ greed” follwoing a packed meeting called to discuss development plans for Gulval.

Mr George had been invited to the meeting in Gulval Village Hall called by the Gulval Village Community Association to explain the background to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and his approach to planning and housing matters at a national level.

Mr George said: “Building hundreds of houses around the village of Gulval is part of the problem, not part of the solution to the housing crisis which Cornwall faces.

“Cornwall is one of the fastest growing places in the United Kingdom. Cornwall’s housing stock has more than doubled in the last 40 years yet the housing problems of locals have got significantly worse. Simply building thousands more houses may satisfy the desire of developers but it does precious little good in meeting the desperate housing needs of local families.

“By indicating that every scrap of land around a village like Gulval has development potential there’s very little chance of being able to bring forward affordable homes to meet the desperate local housing need. The hope value on all land in the area will skyrocket. No-one can build affordable housing in those conditions.”

The Gulval Village Community Association officers presented the current state of play and proposals which they were aware of to the public meeting prior to forthcoming public consultation on a number of proposals which are being brought forward, including Cornwall Council’s Local Plan.