The Sustainable Growth and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to elect a chairman and vice-chairman, hear updates from cabinet members, and address a public question about the Newquay spaceport. Councillor Connor Donnithorne was elected Chairman, and Councillor Rory Gow was elected Vice Chairman. The committee also discussed housing and temporary accommodation, transport, and the Newquay spaceport.

Housing and Temporary Accommodation

The committee discussed the Family Temporary Accommodation (TA) Acquisitions Programme, which was approved by the cabinet on 12 June 2024. The programme aims to address the high number of homeless households placed in costly emergency accommodation. Councillor Laurie Magowan questioned the investment of £17.2 million, equating to £340,000 per house, as an expensive way to home families in need, and asked about plans to reduce the number of households in expensive nightly paid placements.

The Service Director for Housing and Planning said that families in temporary accommodation were on a short-term licence while the council helped them find a permanent home. She acknowledged that purchasing homes on the open market was expensive, but cheaper than bed and breakfast accommodation. She added that the new administration would need to decide how to take the issue forward.

Councillor Andrew Mitchell expressed concern about the Homechoice model of provision and the importance of a better geographic spread. The Service Director for Housing and Planning said that the 50 homes being purchased were spread across Cornwall, but acknowledged the challenges of buying properties in West Cornwall.

Councillor Peter La Broy, Cabinet Member for Housing, reported that as of 24 June 2025, there were 815 homeless households in temporary accommodation, with approximately 490 in more expensive, nightly paid placements, a reduction from over 950 households at its peak the previous year. To address this, the cabinet approved the purchase of 50 high-quality two- and three-bedroom homes, to be delivered by the end of December 2025, at a total cost of up to £17.2 million.

The homes are being targeted in areas with the highest need for emergency accommodation, including Truro, Newquay, Falmouth, Penzance, Camborne, Redruth, St Austell, Liskeard, Hayle, Helston, and Bodmin.

The programme is expected to deliver a 74% net saving on temporary and emergency accommodation costs over a 40-year payback period, by reducing reliance on expensive emergency placements.

Councillor Tim Dwelly, Cabinet Member for Economic, Regeneration and Investment, stated that the new administration would focus on homes for local people on land and sites that Cornwall Council owned. He acknowledged previous issues with the purchase of poor-quality properties, and stated that the administration’s aim was to have more homes in the council’s control and/or ownership that could be used for both homes and temporary accommodation.

Newquay Spaceport

Graham Smith from St Mabyn asked about the prospects for Newquay spaceport ever launching anything into orbit, including Kernow Sat-1, which was promised by Boris Johnson in 2021. He also asked why multiple subsequent promises of imminent horizontal launches, including a crewed lunar mission this year, have all turned out to be completely untrue.

The Chairman responded that the spaceport is part of the overall Cornwall Airport Newquay, and is currently the only operational orbital spaceport in Europe. Cornwall Airport Limited (CAL) runs both the airport and spaceport and would host any potential future launch into space. CAL is in discussion with a range of possible future horizontal launch providers, but none are ready to announce or commit to a launch date. Kernow Sat-1 was built, and the original intention was for it to be launched by Virgin Orbit. As that launch was not successful, discussions are ongoing with potential future partners, but there are no definite plans.

The Chairman also stated that there have been no discussions or plans involving a crewed lunar mission, and the council has previously ruled out space tourism from the site.

Mr Smith then asked what the spaceport's marketing budget was for the current financial year, including staff costs. The Chairman responded that Spaceport Cornwall is part of Cornwall Airport Limited and does not have a separate marketing budget.

Transport

Councillor Dan Rogerson, Cabinet Member for Transport, referred to a forthcoming Peninsula Transport meeting and a meeting with a Plymouth bus contract provider to ascertain its approach in providing services.

He also provided updates on bus services:

• Service 11 saw changes introduced in April 2025 to strengthen its financial sustainability. For September 2025, some Bodmin to Liskeard services will be re-introduced.
• Service 12 will change from three individual journeys to two from late July, with a change still required at Launceston in each direction. Peak journeys that currently run through from either end will remain as they are.