Mr Jupp, MP for East Devon, said the county needed “strong communities all year round, not ghost towns half the year”.
MP for Tiverton and Honiton, Lib Dem Richard Foord said the plans were “too late” for communities already “hollowed out” by the “free for all” on holiday lets. [BBC News]
.
Is there an inevitable clash between residents and visitors? Housing in Devon: locals vs tourists? – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Or can the needs of both locals and tourists be met? Sidmouth, housing to rent and AirBnB – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Is it just too big a problem? Overtourism in the West Country – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Or can inventive ways through be put to use? A solution to our rural housing crisis: responsible tourism – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Here’s the latest inventive way being proposed – as reported by the Rural Services Network:
The Government last week opened a consultation on holiday lets and new rules to give communities greater control over short term lets in tourist hot spots.
The consultation published on 12 April by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities proposes 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. 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 Consultation on the Introduction of a use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights – GOV.UK closes on 7 June 2023
And this is what Devon MPs have had to say:
Conservatives Simon Jupp and Anthony Mangnall said the proposals would help to strike a “better balance” between holiday lets and long-term rentals. Mr Jupp, MP for East Devon, said the county needed “strong communities all year round, not ghost towns half the year”.
However, North Devon’s Conservative MP, Selaine Saxby said while it was welcome, other action was needed to lure landlords back to long-term rentals. She said: “We need more homes for local families, but there is no point building if those properties are just instantly made into holiday lets, we need to use the housing stock we have more effectively and find ways to encourage more long-term landlords back to North Devon.”
Labour MPs Luke Pollard (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) and Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) both criticised the government for scrapping housebuilding targets.
MP for Tiverton and Honiton, Lib Dem Richard Foord said the plans were “too late” for communities already “hollowed out” by the “free for all” on holiday lets.
Devon MPs respond to plan for stricter rules on holiday lets – BBC News
See also: Holiday homes are ‘hollowing out’ coastal areas, says MP – Rural Services Network and Rural communities ‘strangled’ by holiday let surge – Rural Services Network
.