The North York Moors National Park Authority has welcomed the proposal to allow local authorities to charge up to 200% council tax on furnished second homes and holiday lets.
The National Park Authority says it would also like to see further changes to current ‘permitted development’ rights, meaning that any change of use from a permanent home to a second home or holiday let would require planning permission.
The Authority has responded to a call by Government to submit evidence relating to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, which is currently passing through Parliament.
The National Park Authority already has powers to restrict nearly all new homes from becoming second homes through the planning system, however, it has no means of making sure existing homes are not lost to the second home market. The situation is different in Wales, where local authorities already require homeowners to seek planning permission to change a permanent home to a second home or holiday let.
Tom Hind, Chief Executive of the North York Moors National Park Authority, said:
“There will always be a warm welcome for people coming to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the North York Moors and a thriving holiday let market helps that to happen. However, it’s vital that future generations can afford to live and work here.
“North Yorkshire’s Rural Commission recently labelled the younger generation as effectively ‘missing’ from our rural villages, and our evidence bears this out.
As part of the National Park’s new Management Plan, we have committed to doubling the delivery of affordable housing in the North York Moors. However, with more houses ending up as second homes we are swimming against the tide when it comes to making sure those already here have access to adequate, affordable housing. It’s right therefore that Government acts to prevent even more homes lying empty for much of the year.”
According to the 2011 census, 17.3 per cent of the housing stock in the North York Moors National Park contained no permanent resident. This represents a 37% increase over 2001 levels. In some parishes, this figure was much higher. In the Parish of Lythe, which includes Sandsend, it was 41.3%, whilst the figure was 39.3% in the parish of Fylingdales, which includes Robin Hood’s Bay.
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