The Flats

The flats are 11 small one-bed and two-bed homes in a Grade II listed building. Many have been empty for some time. Their surface condition is often poor, with damp, wood rot, general decay and electrics/plumbing that is outdated and may be dangerous. The flats are noisy and hard to heat; some have poor layouts that waste space and are uncomfortable. However, the basic structure is sound and can be refurbished to a high standard.

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Importance to the town

The flats are part of a beautiful, striking terrace that occupies a prominent position overlooking Looe harbour. The external appearance is little changed since they were built in 1892, and we are determined to accept the responsibility of retaining and safeguarding the fine historic fabric.

It is hard to overstate the importance of new rental homes to Looe residents, and to local businesses that need staff. The national housing crisis is made worse in Looe by the number of second homes and holiday lets; 11 new homes at low rents will really help.

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The Project

We started in November 2022 with a first visit to the flats by our team of experts: an architect with extensive experience in renovations to heritage property, and a specialist builder with 20 years’ work on refurbishments to older houses. They reported that the surface conditions are mostly poor, with damp, wood rot, electrics and plumbing that are outdated and may be dangerous. The flats are noisy and hard to heat, and many have poor layouts that waste space and are uncomfortable. However, the experts also advised that the basic structures are sound: good roofs and walls, with clear options for soundproofing and layout improvements, and high potential for energy-saving.

The refurbishment costs will be high, because the site is very difficult for contractors. The only way in is a narrow, single-track lane with no parking, and access and turning room is very tight to the sides and rear.

Following the initial surveys and design work, we are now preparing to begin the full refurbishment phase, due to start within the next few weeks. The construction work will be carried out by Wanless PK, a firm with extensive experience in heritage and refurbishment projects. Their specialist knowledge will be essential in delivering the project to a high standard while preserving the building’s historic character.

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Community Investment

Our Community Share Offer was a huge success, raising a total of £252,600 to support the refurbishment of Looe’s Coastguard Flats.

A breakdown of the funding:

• 203 people invested, contributing a total of £112,600.
• Around 50% of investors are from Looe, with another 25% from nearby areas such as Liskeard and the Rame Peninsula.
• The remaining investments came from across the UK, many from people who know and care about Looe through family or holiday connections.

Thanks to this incredible community support, we secured an additional £100,000 from the Co-ops UK Booster Fund, and a further £40,000 from Community Shares ICOF in Bristol.

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Cornwall Council’s position

For reasons of regulatory requirements and budget restrictions, Cornwall Council are not in a position to refurbish the flats themselves. The result is that without another solution, there would eventually have been a sale at auction on the open market, certainly leading to the buildings being lost as second homes.

Instead, the Council gave us the opportunity to make our case, on the back of our existing success in Cawsand, and eventually an agreement was reached for us to purchase the building for the nominal sum of £1. This partnership ensures the Coastguard Flats will remain as affordable homes for local residents, preserving both their heritage and community value.

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The Feasibility Study

The Looe Community Land Trust

A vital part of our work is to support local residents in Looe to become fully active in the project: we are serious about promoting community control and involvement to the greatest extend possible. We are very pleased that a strong group of local volunteers has come together in Looe town to create the “Looe Community Land Trust”. The new Trust is the local link with the project and will:

• Ensure that the flats provide housing for local people
• Ensure that as much of the work as possible goes to local contractors
• Engage with local people and businesses
• Be the local point of contact for the project
• Have a voice on decisions on contractors and tenants
• Look for more housing opportunities in the future

More information and membership details are at www.looeclt.org.uk.

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Legal structure and registration details

Looe Community Land Trust is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as a Community Benefit Society, no 9133.

The group is not a registered charity and therefore does not appear on the Charity Commission website. The organisational details can be found at the FCA Mutuals Register, where the annual reports will be published in due course: https://mutuals.fca.org.uk/

Contact information

Website:   www.looeclt.org.uk Email:  info@looeclt.org.uk

Registered Office: Dolphin, Plaidy Park Rd, East Looe, Cornwall, PL13 1LG