New holiday lets could need planning permission under government plans
The government is seeking views on the introduction of planning permission for existing homes to be used as new short-term lets.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) published a consultation yesterday that would see a planning use class created for short-term lets not used as a sole or main home.
It would be combined with new permitted development rights, which will mean planning permission is not needed in areas where local authorities choose not to use these planning controls.
It will also consider whether to give owners flexibility to let out their home for up to a specified number of nights in a calendar year without the need for planning permission.
The government believes its plans will help support local people in areas where high numbers of holiday lets are preventing them from finding affordable housing at the same time as strengthening the tourism sector.
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Housing secretary Michael Gove said: “Tourism brings many benefits to our economy but in too many communities we have seen local people pushed out of cherished towns, cities and villages by huge numbers of short-term lets.
“I’m determined that we ensure that more people have access to local homes at affordable prices, and that we prioritise families desperate to rent or buy a home of their own close to where they work."
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.
Any planning changes and the register will not impact on hotels, hostels or B&Bs.
At the same time, the culture department will launch a separate consultation on a new registration scheme for short-term lets to help understand the impact of short-term lets on communities.
Culture secretary Lucy Frazer said: “This new world of ultra-flexible short-term lets gives tourists more choice than ever before, but it should not come at the expense of local people being able to own their own home and stay local.”
The Welsh government announced similar powers in its own holiday let crackdown in October last year.
Wales plans to give local authorities across the country the option to classify homes as primary residences, second homes or holiday lets.
The changes mean an owner would need to get planning permission to change a property from a primary residence to a second home. This would allow councils to control the number of second homes in an area.
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