Former Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling for second home owners to have to apply for planning permission if they do not intend to live in a property on a full-time basis.
It calls for the House of Commons to “acknowledges the effect second home ownership can have on rural communities, including the decline and closure of key local services and amenities and recognise the effect second home ownership has on the supply of housing”.
The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, who stood down as Lib Dem leader after the General Election in June, is calling on the Government to change planning laws to require home owners to seek planning permission if they do not intend to live in the property on a full-time basis.
However, the motion does not make it clear whether Farron is referring only to holiday homes, or to rental properties as well.
Farron was the only signatory as of Friday afternoon. In full, the motion reads:
“That this House notes that the South Lakes area has one of the highest levels of second home ownership in the country; acknowledges the effect second home ownership can have on rural communities, including the decline and closure of key local services and amenities; recognises the effect second home ownership has on the supply of housing at a time when so many people and families struggle to attain a home of their own; calls on the Government to change planning laws to require home owners to seek planning permission if they do not intend to live in the property on a full-time basis; and believes that such a process would allow local elected representatives to have a direct say on the level of second home ownership in their communities, giving them the opportunity to reject bids where they feel the number of second homes is having a negative impact on local life.”
Never heard as much nonsense in a long while. I could understand if the proposal were to use planning consents in new build development to favour local residents ( as happens already in some areas ) but to suggest that if you buy a second home somehow the local planning authority should have to consent is ridiculous .
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Dumb as a bag of rocks.
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The man is a fool.
The first thing that came to mind was not about how planning departments are backlogged.
The first thought was about a publicly available list of all properties suitable for burglary on a Tuesday evening.
What an effing Muppet!
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Planning permission to buy a house?! I’ve heard it all now lol!
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Another failed politician trying to get noticed! Instead of which just proves that he knows nothing about what he’s talking about- still! Probably best to crawl back under a stone and shut up!
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