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17
Jan 2022
Lack of affordable housing 'killing' villages in North Yorkshire
Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has said second homes and holiday lets are "killing" rural communities in places such as North Yorkshire.
Mr Farron told a debate in Parliament last week that more than a quarter of the housing stock in the Yorkshire Dales was not lived in.
He added the majority of properties in some towns and villages were empty most of the year.
Mr Farron, whose constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale in Cumbria is severely affected by second homes, called for action to "shift the dial and save the dales and other rural communities".
He said:
Mr Farron accused the government of "inexcusable inaction to save our communities" and outlines a seven-point action plan.
The measures included making second homes and holiday lets new and separate categories of planning use so councils and national parks could limit the number of them in each town and village, giving councils the power to increase council tax by up to 100% on second homes in the worst-affected communities and ensuring Airbnb properties "meet the same standards as any other rental".
Read more:
- ‘Bold and brave’ changes to prevent second homes in Dales
- Plans to convert landmark pub near Pateley Bridge into holiday cottage refused
Housing minister Christopher Pincher said rural communities faced "some very specific challenges", which was why the government had changed the tax system.
He added changes had been made to stamp duty to help first-time buyers and a surcharge had been introduced for foreign purchasers of property.
Mr Pincher added:
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