Lords Housing Minister, Baroness Andrews, visited Truro to hear plans for the city's provision of badly needed affordable housing under the Government's New Growth Points initiative.

The minister went to the site of the old Richard Lander School at Highertown which has been suggested by Carrick District Council as an area for new housing, many of which will be affordable homes.

During her visit to the city, Baroness Andrews was given a tour of the Knowledge Spa Building as well as the site of the new Medi Park.

She also saw the site of the proposed western park and ride scheme and was briefed on Carrick's Truro and Threemilestone Area Action Plan.

Truro is one of 45 towns and cities confirmed last year as New Growth Points, with the combined potential to deliver up to 100,000 extra new homes nationally and many more new jobs over the next ten years than previously planned.

The Growth Point plans for Truro aim to strengthen the city's role as a regional centre and tackle the imbalance between homes and jobs leading to a cut in commuter journeys and reduced pollution. The Truro Growth Point is a partnership between the Government and Carrick District Council and Cornwall County Council, whose plans include an additional 5,000 new homes for the district with a minimum 35% affordable homes.

The plan also envisages 350 new student bedspaces and 100 keyworker flats to support expanding health and educational facilities in the city, 50,000 sq ft of managed workspace associated with the new Medi-park development, additional recreation and community facilities to support the new housing schemes and a 1,200 space park and ride.

Baroness Andrews said: "I'm glad to have the opportunity of seeing the imaginative plans for Truro's sustainable development which aims to provide affordable homes and new employment opportunities while also cutting traffic congestion with help from the New Growth Points programme.

"New Growth Points will help to concentrate future growth at existing urban centres like Truro and present a significant opportunity for any new developments to pioneer environmentally sustainable buildings and high design standards."

The Growth Points initiative is a crucial part of delivering an increase in housebuilding in England in response to economist Kate Barker's review of housing supply which found that over the last 30 years house building rates have halved whereas over the same period demand for new homes has increased by a third.

The growth ambitions submitted have all been appraised by Government to ensure they are sustainable, acceptable environmentally and realistic in terms of infrastructure. Levels and locations of growth are subject to full public consultation, testing, and examination through local and regional planning processes.

In signing up to a new partnership for growth with the Government, local authorities will be subject to conditions to ensure there is effective water supply and flood mitigation, and that the impact of potential development on infrastructure is fully understood.