Looe Coastguard Flats

Three Seas Cornwall

Creating affordable community-owned housing in historic buildings

Grade II

This row of historic cottages sits high on the steep sides of Looe, overlooking the harbour, and is considered to be a particularly impressive example of its type. Prominently positioned, with houses flanking a central observation room, the limestone terrace was built in 1892-93 to serve as a coastguard station for this port town and is a distinctive local landmark. Cornwall Council converted the terrace into social housing flats during the twentieth century, but the dwellings have become increasingly vacant given the cost and complexity of improving the accommodation and carrying out a necessary package of repairs to the historic fabric on this restricted site.

Three Seas Cornwall was established as a specialist charity supporting the creation of community housing in Cornwall's Coastal Communities (3Cs). They have developed the experience and skills to help local people find, buy and refurbish housing for long-term, low-cost rent. The charity has secured around £2 million to adapt the Looe Coastguard Flats to create 11 affordable flats for local people. The secured funding will enable the refurbishment of the dwellings, while the charity has further ambitions to secure additional funding to install green energy generation on site.

The AHF has supported Three Seas with a Project Viability Grant, made possible by Historic England and the Pilgrim Trust, providing early-stage funding to undertake a feasibility report on the Coastguard Flats and, in particular, to support the production of a number of specialist site surveys. Three Seas currently has a confirmed arrangement for the Looe Coastguard Flats to transfer from the Council to the charity once its Registered Provider status is in place, which is anticipated to be in September 2024.

AHF Funding

Project Viability Grant - £10,000 (2023)

Photo Credits

Three Seas Cornwall