Latest news with #DraftSupplementaryPlanningGuidance
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Second homes and holiday lets curb slammed as a 'big brother' move
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info North Wales Live readers are concerned to hear that planning chiefs have stated that new restrictions on second homes and holiday lets in Eryri will grant "more control" over local housing stock. Data reveals nearly half the homes in one village are second homes. A new Article 4 Direction within the Eryri National Park as of June 1, 2025, has curtailed rights concerning the conversion of primary residences to second homes or short-term holiday lets, including certain mixed uses. This move also affects the change of use between second homes and holiday lets. Following this, the planning and access committee of Eryri National Park has endorsed proposals regarding its Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG), which aims to regulate the usage of dwellings as holiday homes. The SPG establishes an annual review process to determine a threshold percentage for allowable properties, with 15% being deemed an "appropriate" limit for the number of holiday or second homes in specific locales. Across Eryri, the current rate is 17.4%, but setting a 15% cap for individual areas aligns with policy frameworks of other authorities. Statistics indicate the proportion of second homes and short-term lets across community council regions, with Aberdyfi topping the list at 45%. Cllr Elwyn Jones queried the rise and fall of figures in areas, and asked if there would be a review. Director of Planning and Partnerships Keira Sweenie said a review in a year would be "very sensible". She said: "Whatever percentage we agree today, nobody knows what the impact of the guidance will be. What is important is that we are in a better situation than before Article 4, because, at least now we have some level of control." Commenter Morpick says: 'Sadly shades of a 'Big Brother' state that will have zero impact on the availability of affordable homes. Just takes attention away from the council and their lack of priority given to the provision of such accommodation for generations.' BarnettFormulaSpongers replies: 'The problem is lack of jobs. On average property in North Wales is very cheap.' Llanpeter agrees: 'I think that's the point: the problem is jobs and the income that comes with them. The rest is a consequence, whether it's housing, poverty, lack of opportunity or whatever. SCATHINGPEN adds: 'Control of housing is control of a major asset, control of income and ultimately, control of someone's money. This argument about the housing crisis caused by holiday lets second homes is a false flag. It has been from the start. There are plenty of homes that are cheap enough to be affordable for locals, if employed.' Truebrit thinks: 'All those houses have been sold to outsiders by locals to get a higher price for them, so who is most at fault the locals selling out their neighbours or the outsiders buying a house put up for sale on the open market? If all the houses were owned by locals how would they make a living as there's very little local employment, the hard fact is Wales needs tourism to survive.' Indigodebz adds: 'I'd love to know how many of these second homes were built as second homes in the first place. So many wealthy Victorian and Edwardian businessmen built homes in North Wales towns and villages. Some brand new towns. Subsequent generations have developed and maintained them employing local tradespeople. We have some fabulous restaurants and retail shops that depend on wealthy visitors.' Tomosb81 points out: 'Basic economics means that if you take an asset (a primary home) and impose a massive selling restriction on it (can only be sold as a primary home), then the value of that asset will fall. Note, that the smoke and mirrors that continue to be deployed mean that many people still think this primarily affects second home owners. Of course, as a secondary impact, all house values including second homes and holiday homes will be hit due to everyone losing confidence in the governance of Gwynedd and Eryri. But even if in the short-term that means second homes are sold for reduced prices, they will most likely just be bought by other second home owners. "The only primary home owners who may be unaffected by this are those who never intend to leave Gwynedd/Eryri. They continue to say "we need house prices to crash". But it is incredibly selfish to everyone else who may need at some point to sell their home to move away for a multitude of reasons, or to fund care home fees, etc.' Glueman53 complains: 'The government under-funds councils and then gives them the right to introduce a punitive tax on people's investments. They will find to their cost that second homes will inject more income into the local economy than any local resident. Affordability is nothing new, I wanted to live in London but got priced out, so I moved out.' Do you think the Article 4 direction will free up homes for locals? Have your say in our comments section.
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Live
Second homes and holiday lets curb slammed as a 'big brother' move
North Wales Live readers are concerned to hear that planning chiefs have stated that new restrictions on second homes and holiday lets in Eryri will grant "more control" over local housing stock. Data reveals nearly half the homes in one village are second homes. A new Article 4 Direction within the Eryri National Park as of June 1, 2025, has curtailed rights concerning the conversion of primary residences to second homes or short-term holiday lets, including certain mixed uses. This move also affects the change of use between second homes and holiday lets. Following this, the planning and access committee of Eryri National Park has endorsed proposals regarding its Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG), which aims to regulate the usage of dwellings as holiday homes. The SPG establishes an annual review process to determine a threshold percentage for allowable properties, with 15% being deemed an "appropriate" limit for the number of holiday or second homes in specific locales. Across Eryri, the current rate is 17.4%, but setting a 15% cap for individual areas aligns with policy frameworks of other authorities. Statistics indicate the proportion of second homes and short-term lets across community council regions, with Aberdyfi topping the list at 45%. Cllr Elwyn Jones queried the rise and fall of figures in areas, and asked if there would be a review. Director of Planning and Partnerships Keira Sweenie said a review in a year would be "very sensible". She said: "Whatever percentage we agree today, nobody knows what the impact of the guidance will be. What is important is that we are in a better situation than before Article 4, because, at least now we have some level of control." Commenter Morpick says: 'Sadly shades of a 'Big Brother' state that will have zero impact on the availability of affordable homes. Just takes attention away from the council and their lack of priority given to the provision of such accommodation for generations.' BarnettFormulaSpongers replies: 'The problem is lack of jobs. On average property in North Wales is very cheap.' Llanpeter agrees: 'I think that's the point: the problem is jobs and the income that comes with them. The rest is a consequence, whether it's housing, poverty, lack of opportunity or whatever. SCATHINGPEN adds: 'Control of housing is control of a major asset, control of income and ultimately, control of someone's money. This argument about the housing crisis caused by holiday lets second homes is a false flag. It has been from the start. There are plenty of homes that are cheap enough to be affordable for locals, if employed.' Truebrit thinks: 'All those houses have been sold to outsiders by locals to get a higher price for them, so who is most at fault the locals selling out their neighbours or the outsiders buying a house put up for sale on the open market? If all the houses were owned by locals how would they make a living as there's very little local employment, the hard fact is Wales needs tourism to survive.' Indigodebz adds: 'I'd love to know how many of these second homes were built as second homes in the first place. So many wealthy Victorian and Edwardian businessmen built homes in North Wales towns and villages. Some brand new towns. Subsequent generations have developed and maintained them employing local tradespeople. We have some fabulous restaurants and retail shops that depend on wealthy visitors.' Tomosb81 points out: 'Basic economics means that if you take an asset (a primary home) and impose a massive selling restriction on it (can only be sold as a primary home), then the value of that asset will fall. Note, that the smoke and mirrors that continue to be deployed mean that many people still think this primarily affects second home owners. Of course, as a secondary impact, all house values including second homes and holiday homes will be hit due to everyone losing confidence in the governance of Gwynedd and Eryri. But even if in the short-term that means second homes are sold for reduced prices, they will most likely just be bought by other second home owners. "The only primary home owners who may be unaffected by this are those who never intend to leave Gwynedd/Eryri. They continue to say "we need house prices to crash". But it is incredibly selfish to everyone else who may need at some point to sell their home to move away for a multitude of reasons, or to fund care home fees, etc.' Glueman53 complains: 'The government under-funds councils and then gives them the right to introduce a punitive tax on people's investments. They will find to their cost that second homes will inject more income into the local economy than any local resident. Affordability is nothing new, I wanted to live in London but got priced out, so I moved out.'
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Wales Online
The Gwynedd village where almost half of properties are second homes or holiday lets
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Curbs on the use of second homes and holiday lets in Eryri will provide "more control" over the area's housing stock, planning bosses say. It comes as figures show almost half of homes in one village are used as second homes or holiday lets. An Article 4 Direction came into force in the Eryri National Park on June 1, 2025, removing permitted rights over the change of use of main homes to second homes or short term holiday lets, and certain mixed uses. It also removed permitted rights over the change of use from second homes to short term holiday lets, and vice versa. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday Now, Eryri National Park's planning and access committee has approved recommendations over its Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance [SPG], managing the use of dwellings as holiday homes, during a meeting on Wednesday, June 25. The SPG was needed to identify a threshold figure for the percentages of permitted properties, to be reviewed annually. The document also provides guidance to help those submitting planning applications, and helps planning officers and park authority members to determine applications relating to the change of use of main and second homes and holiday lets. A figure of 15% had been considered "appropriate" as a threshold figure limiting the number of holiday or second homes in specific areas. In Eryri, the level currently stands at 17.4%, for the whole park. However, 15% for individual areas was said to "reflect policy frameworks" used by other authorities. Data showed the percentage of second homes and short term lets per community council areas. The highest was in Aberdyfi, where 45% of homes were second homes or holiday lets. Among the highest were: Beddgelert at 34.4%, Llanfair; 28.4%, Capel Curig; 24.8%, Betws Garmon; 22%, Betws y Coed; 20.8%, Pennal; 20.6%, Arthog; 19.9%, Brithdir and Llanfachraeth; 19%, Bro Garmon; 19.2%, Llanbedr; 18.9, Talsarnau; 18%, Abermaw; 17.9%, Llanelltyd; 16.9, Dolwyddelan; 16.7% and Harlech; 16.5%. Among the lowest were: Dolgarrog; 1.9%, Llanrwst; 2.5%, Llanddeiniolen; 3.1%, Llanfairfechan; 3.2%, Llangywair; 3.3%, Aber; 3.3%, Llandygai; 3.4%, Penmaenmawr; 4.6%, Conwy; 4.8%, and Bala; 4.9%. During the discussion over the threshold, Cllr Edgar Owen, asked: "So, in Bala, where it's about 4% - does that mean they can now build more holiday homes? "Say, if we build one hundred affordable homes, in addition to what's there, does that mean they can build 15 holiday homes as well? "The number for the park as a whole is 18% so we should stop now, shouldn't we?" Geraint Evans, Planning Officer (Policy), said: "It is important to remember that the guidance recommends with new homes, if they aren't affordable, there should be a requirement set on them so they can't be used as second homes or holiday lets. "If there were 100 homes in Bala, the percentage would go down, because they would not be able to be used as new holiday lets. The percentage in total would reduce." Cllr Elwyn Jones queried the rise and fall of figures in areas, and asked if there would be a review. Director of Planning and Partnerships Keira Sweenie said a review in a year would be "very sensible". She said: "Whatever percentage we agree today, nobody knows what the impact of the guidance will be. "What is important is that we are in a better situation than before Article 4, because, at least now we have some level of control. "There are areas where the numbers will go up and down, depending on trends and people's needs." She added the threshold figure may need to be lowered or raised in the future, and noted that it was important to find "balance" with regard to the visitor economy in the park. She said: "We have not looked at this problem before, the most important thing is, what we have now is an improvement." It was hoped the measures would help bring the numbers down across the park. It was also noted that each application was "judged on its own merit" and that the threshold percentage was only part of the planning considerations. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
