Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
20
Sept 2022
Action to tackle Yorkshire Dales second homes receives 'overwhelming support'
Further action to tackle rising amounts of second homes and holiday lets in the Yorkshire Dales National Park looks set to become part of a plan which will shape the area until 2040.
A meeting of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority today will consider responses to a consultation on its Local Plan, which features policies designed to increase housing for local residents.
The proposed policies come ahead of North Yorkshire County Council’s executive considering introducing a 100% council tax premium on second and empty homes in the Dales.
The North Yorkshire Rural Commission concluded last year that the shortage of affordable housing was among the greatest challenges to resolve.
An officer’s report to the park authority meeting states the consultation has confirmed “overwhelming support” for all new housing to be for permanent residents.
Read More:
- North Yorkshire County Council considers intervening in Dales housing market
- Pandemic sparks fresh concerns over Yorkshire Dales second homes
However, officers have highlighted some respondents had dubbed the measure too weak and had stated all new housing should be targeted at local need only, as permanent occupancy would still mean younger residents faced competition from retirees.
While community leaders say it is only fair people retiring from working a lifetime in the Dales, such as farmers, should be able to continue living in the area, concerns have also been raised that about 30% of national park residents are aged over 65, about double the national average.
The consultation has also found support for the authority attempting to get housing built on specific sites it has identified, as finding suitable land for housing in the national park has proved to be a major hurdle in developing affordable housing.
Views were split over whether requiring developers to provide up to 50% affordable housing on sites in certain areas of the park is achievable.
Ahead of the meeting, Upper Dales councillor and park authority member Yvonne Peacock said the current policy of restricting new housing to those with local connections often prevented “desperately needed new blood from coming in and working here”.
She said fostering the economic wellbeing of local communities was made a higher priority by the authority.
Cllr Peacock said:
National park officers said the next stage of the Local Plan would see a consultation on the possible housing sites. The target is to provide sufficient land for 850 new homes between 2023 and 2040.
Officers are currently assessing and mapping potential sites and updating housing development boundaries around 100 settlements.
A list of potential sites and maps will be issued for public comment in the next few months.
0