Certain conditions might be imposed on converting barns

Councillors in Penwith are pushing for a change in planning policy because of the overwhelming need for affordable housing in the district.

Under current planning guidelines, the conversion of barns to housing is only allowed when the building cannot be used for employment or holiday use, or if it needs expensive restoration.

Penwith District Council is now considering allowing barns to be converted to housing, but only if certain conditions are applied.

Conditions could include capping the price of the property to make it affordable for local people.

Many workers in Cornwall, where the average wage is �18,000, have been squeezed out of the property market by soaring house prices.

In the last decade, house prices in Cornwall have, on average, more than tripled.