A pensioner from St Ives is on a mission to provide affordable housing for everyone who needs it in Cornwall, writes Local Democracy Reporter Lee Trewhela.

Barry Lewis’ first aim is to help solve the housing crisis in a “second home paradise”.

Barry, 86, owns development company Housing Matters Ltd, which he formed with the specific desire to build homes and let them at no more than 50 per cent of the market rate; what he describes as “real affordable homes”.

The founding chairman of the former Penwith Housing Association, Barry now has a dream to help the people of Portloe and surrounding area on the Roseland Peninsula.

His one-man mission started after reading a story I wrote last year which highlighted the housing crisis facing locals in the seaside village, which one resident described as a “second home paradise”.

Portloe has been rated as among the “20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland”. That might explain why, according to residents, 85 per cent of houses in Portloe are now second homes or holiday accommodation.

"I chatted to locals following a public meeting in neighbouring Veryan when parish council chairman Luke Dunstan revealed there is only one child living among the 90-odd houses in Portloe.

There are currently seven properties in Portloe for sale on Rightmove, from £650,000 to £2.25m; prices that are well out of the range of the average local. Dave Rounsevell has lived in the area all his life and is one of just two remaining fishermen working out of the harbour. He told me last year: “In the past, up until the early ’80s, you could have earned enough working at sea to afford a mortgage here, but not now. You can work as hard as you like and there’s not a cat in hell’s chance.”

Barry, a former policeman and probation officer, was struck by the article and determined to use his experience in housing to help create more affordable homes in Portloe. “There was a period in my life, when I first got married and was a young probation officer, when we couldn’t really afford a home. I used to drive around, thinking somewhere there’s a house for us,” he told me. “That’s why I’d like to help locals and the next generation in Portloe.”

He was previously a managing director of the Retirement Care Group, which built retirement housing all over the country – 8,000 over 20-odd years. The company was sold and Barry received over £1 million. “Instead of putting it in the bank and thinking what a clever lad I am, I decided to get involved in affordable housing. We’re talking about 45 years ago – I built 150 houses in the centre of Bristol, which we sold at 70 per cent of market value, then went to Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire and did the same thing.” He also built 50 houses in St Ives, where he now lives.

“I’m now 86 – it’s about time I retired, but I have no intention of retiring. It is a mission of mine to help provide real affordable housing.”

His aim is to form a partnership with a house builder and housing association to undertake the management of the properties. As a result, he has been in discussion with both the Vistry Group and Coastline Housing. Any housing association partnership would lead to Government funding, which would cross-subsidise Barry’s own development plans. A Section 106 agreement on any subsequent developments would ensure the homes would only be available to local people.

Chatting to me in the beer garden of the village’s Ship Inn, Barry said: “The next step is Portloe, although the houses would have to be a little way outside the village. Housing is desperately needed in this area and I’ve got the money to provide it.”

Barry says of his proposals: “The plan is to develop at least ten schemes each year with a minimum of 40 homes in each scheme, that being the number we are advised permits rents at an affordable level. My aim is to produce three-bed semi-detached homes at no more than 50 per cent of market rents.”

He is now looking for rural exception sites across Cornwall – small sites on the edge of rural settlements that are used to provide affordable housing for local residents while preserving the community’s character. “I never pay more than £10,000 per building plot and build 15 to the acre, so the landowner gets £150,000 an acre for land worth £20,000 an acre. I’ve never failed to persuade a farmer yet.”

Housing Matters is also looking for suitable land in St Ives where, Barry says, there is an urgent need for more than 200 homes “which the current Mayor has indicated is his priority to accomplish in his term of office”.

Barry says he has sent details of his affordable housing model to council clerks across Cornwall, but has had almost no response. “A friend of mine said to me last night ‘people have got to bloody well stop talking about affordable homes and start doing something about it’. I’m able to start doing something and yet the local authorities are not responding.”

He would like to see the creation of a body in Cornwall to regulate and assist with the development of genuinely affordable homes.

Barry added: “Currently, without seeking controversy, it has to be recognised that Cornwall Council through its house-building company Treveth is in direct competition with every house builder in the county and this has to be addressed if Cornwall Council are to be the instigators of any form of regulatory or quasi-regulatory body.

“As a member for over 20 years of the Chartered Institute of Housing, I sought the council’s involvement but there was little enthusiasm for the idea, although I still maintain they were the obvious vehicle for the concept. The private sector may now have to take the lead.”

Barry, whose eldest daughter is Emma Haase, the principal of the biggest school in Cornwall, Camborne Science and International Academy, said: “I am determined and at 86 I’m not fearful of anybody. I can’t be sacked or admonished for telling the truth, and the truth is that there’s no reason why every single person in Cornwall who needs – and I emphasise, needs – a home, can’t have one. It’s just for the councils to get off their arses and start co-operating – that’s all it takes.”

He would like local landowners to know that money is available to buy their land at substantially more than its agricultural value. If any councils or landowners are interested in working with Barry, he can be contacted by email at barrylewis144@btinternet.com