The Government has released details of new rules to give
communities greater control over short-term lets in tourist hot
spots, while also strengthening the tourism sector.
A consultation published today by the Department for Levelling
Up, Housing and Communities will propose introducing planning
permission for an existing home to start to be used as a short
term let – helping support local people in areas where high
numbers of holiday lets are preventing them from finding
affordable housing.
The new proposals come as the Department for Culture Media and
Sport also launches a separate consultation on a new registration
scheme for short-term lets.
The scheme aims to build a picture of how many short-term lets
there are and where they are located, to help understand the
impact of short-term lets on communities.
The DCMS consultation follows a call for evidence held earlier in
the year, the results of which are published today and indicate
broad support for a registration scheme across the sector.
St Austell and Newquay’s Member of Parliament has been one of the leading
voices calling for change in this area. Welcoming the news, he
said:
“Throughout my time as Member of Parliament for St Austell
and Newquay I have been clear that more needs to be done to help
better regulate the holiday let market and give communities the
power, where it is an issue, to redress the balance between
holiday lets and full time residences, ensuring our towns and
villages are given every assistance to be vibrant all year round
communities.”
“Today’s announcements are incredibly welcome, and I thank
the Government for listening to calls from myself and my Cornish
MP colleagues, and acting to take these sensible and practical
steps.”
“Simply put, establishing a separate planning use category
for short term holiday lets will allow local authorities such as
Cornwall Council to become decision-makers on how many of these
types of business are in local communities, as well as giving
town and parish councils, as well as the wider public a say in
these matters through the planning process.”
“At the same time the second consultation, which I surveyed
people locally on last year and found significant support for,
will allow the Government to fully measure the impact that the
over-saturation of holiday lets has on local communities and then
be in a better position to take evidence-based action
accordingly.”
“I will be encouraging St Austell and Newquay constituency
residents to respond to these consultations and have their say,
and I hope to see these proposals become reality as soon as
possible.”
The government has listened to calls from local people in tourist
hotspots that they are priced out of homes to rent or to buy and
need housing that is more affordable so they can continue to work
and live in the place they call home. The proposed planning
changes would support sustainable communities, supporting local
people and businesses and local services.
The proposed planning changes would see a planning use class
created for short term lets not used as a sole or main home,
alongside new permitted development rights, which will mean
planning permission is not needed in areas where local
authorities choose not to use these planning controls.
Both of these measures are focussed on short term lets, and
therefore the planning changes and the register will not impact
on hotels, hostels or B&Bs.
The register of short term lets is being introduced through the
Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which is currently going
through Parliament.
Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the planning changes
would be introduced through secondary legislation later in the
year and would apply in England only.
