The shared ownership homes are in the new Collygree Parc development in Goldsithney near Penzance.

To qualify for the houses applicants must live in Goldsithney, St Hilary or Perranuthnoe, or have been born or raised there.

Prospective residents must also be able to generate a mortgage of �54,000 and be able to pay a small rent.

Recent Land Registry figures show average house prices in the county rose nearly 2% over the past year to �208,238.

Since 1999 prices in west Cornwall have risen by more than 150%, which is 50% more than the national average.

A survey of estate agents last year showed that twice as many house sales in west Cornwall are for second homes as for first-time buyers.