Local residents will be protected from being pushed out of their communities by excessive short-term lets thanks to changes in planning rules announced today.
Under the reforms councils like Cornwall Council will be given greater power to control short-term lets by making them subject to the planning process. This will support local people in areas where high numbers of short-term lets are preventing them from finding housing they can afford to buy or to rent.
These changes are part of a long-term plan to prevent a “hollowing out” of communities, address anti-social behaviour and ensure local people can continue to live in the place they call home.
Meanwhile, a new mandatory national register will give local authorities the information they need about short-term lets in their area. This will help councils understand the extent of short-term lets in their area, the effects on their communities, and underpin compliance with key health and safety regulations.
Cllr Linda Taylor, Leader of Cornwall Council said:
“These changes are very welcome indeed and something that the Conservative Group on Cornwall Council has worked for a long time with our six Conservative Members of Parliament to realise.”
“I am delighted to see the Government fully back the need for a mandatory register and new planning permissions, and look forward to seeing the Government’s full reply to the consultation.”
“Cornwall Council will then be able to use these changes to make a real difference for local people in communities across Cornwall, from St Ives to Bude and all communities in between that are currently blighted by an over saturation of holiday lets.”
The proposed planning changes would see a new planning ‘use class’ created for short-term lets not used as a sole or main home. Existing dedicated short-term lets will automatically be reclassified into the new use class and will not require a planning application.
The changes are part of the Government’s long-term plan for housing, unlocking more of the homes this country needs and meeting the target to deliver one million homes this Parliament, backed by £10 billion investment.
The Government also intends to introduce associated permitted development rights – one allowing for a property to be changed from a short-term let to a standard residential dwelling, and a second that would allow a property to be changed to a short-term let. Local authorities would be able to remove these permissions and require full planning permission if they deem it necessary.
Both of these measures are focussed on short-term lets, and therefore the planning changes and the register will not affect hotels, hostels or B&Bs.
Further details of these measures will be set out in the Government’s response to the consultations, including the timeline for implementation of the register, the use class and the individual permitted development rights - with the changes being introduced from this summer.
