Has Cornwall’s housing crisis created a van life generation?

Cornwall's housing crisis is forcing young people to live in vans. As second homes and short-term holiday lets drive up house prices, a growing number are turning to van life to stay in the place they love. Subscribe to The Guardian on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/user/theguardian?sub_confirmation=1 The Guardian meets young people who say their van brings them freedom but also uncertainty, as they struggle to find water, safe places to park and secure a future ​’It can flip quickly from being idyllic’: the reality of life in Cornwall for young van dwellers priced out of the housing market ► https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/25/reality-life-cornwall-young-van-dwellers-priced-out-of-the-housing-market Some details in this film have been changed for safety reasons Chapters: 00:00 – Parking up 01:25 – Living in a van 03:23 – A van dweller drop-in centre 05:11 – Cracking down on van lifers and motorhomes 06:52 – Walking Cornwall's coastal path for charity The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► https://support.theguardian.com/ Sign up to the Guardian's free new daily newsletter, First Edition ► http://theguardian.com/first-edition Website ► https://www.theguardian.com Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/theguardian Bluesky ► https://bsky.app/profile/theguardian.com Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/guardian The Guardian on YouTube: Guardian News ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiannews Guardian Australia ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianaustralia Guardian Football ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianfootball Football Weekly ► https://www.youtube.com/@footballweeklypodcast Guardian Sport ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiansport It's Complicated ► https://www.youtube.com/@itscomplicated Guardian Live ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianlive #vanlife #cornwall #homelessness #uk #housingcrisis