The Government has today confirmed that local authorities like Cornwall Council will be given new powers to make people turning residential homes into holiday lets have to apply for planning permission in the communities most affected by them. Holiday lets will also be included on a mandatory national register.
This follows a successful campaign by the Cornish MPs for more regulation on holiday lets as part of the Government’s Levelling Up Act.
Last year the Government consulted on these changes, and today the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove MP has confirmed they will be adopted.
Welcoming the news was St Austell and Newquay’s Member of Parliament, Steve Double, who said:
“As most people are aware, Cornwall is facing a housing crisis, partly as a result of properties that should be a local person’s home being turned into holiday lets.”
“The imbalance between holiday lets and homes used all year round by local people is something that has a really negative impact on communities across Cornwall, and is something I have long campaigned on addressing.”
“In recent months I have spoken up in Parliament about the negative impact on communities such as Newquay, Fowey and Mevagissey that the uncontrolled growth of holiday lets has had, and last week I was pleased to welcome the Secretary of State for Levelling Up to Newquay to discuss these concerns with him.”
“It is good to see the Government now taking decisive action to make these changes, which will allow councils to see the scale of the problem via the mandatory register, and then make people who wish to change properties from residential to holiday lets do so by applying for change of use via a planning permission application, therefore giving the councils the ultimate say on numbers of holiday lets in the communities most affected. I look forward to seeing these changes brought in by Cornwall Council and used for the good of Cornish communities.”
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, Michael Gove said:
“Short-term lets can play an important role in the UK’s flourishing tourism economy, providing great, easily-accessible accommodation in some of the most beautiful parts of our country.”
“But in some areas, too many local families and young people feel they are being shut out of the housing market and denied the opportunity to rent or buy in their own community.”
“So the Government is taking action as part of its long-term plan for housing. That means delivering more of the right homes in the right places, and giving communities the power to decide.”
“This will allow local communities to take back control and strike the right balance between protecting the visitor economy and ensuring local people get the homes they need.”