Context
Constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale faces a significant issue with second homes. Up to 85% of properties in towns like Coniston, Hawkshead, Pooley Bridge are not lived in for most of the year.
Question
Towns and communities in my constituency have so many second homes that up to 85% of properties are not lived in for most of the year, meaning that the very survival of those communities is under serious threat. The Government have done a number of things, including talking about short-term lets being a separate category of planning use. However, will the Minister agree to look at also making second homes a separate category of planning use so that we can prevent these beautiful places from becoming ghost towns?
Answer from The Minister for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook)
As the hon. Gentleman will know, the previous Government consulted on making short-term lets a different use class, but did not consult on second homes becoming a use class. As part of our wider consideration about the additional powers we might give local authorities, I am more than happy to have a conversation with him. I understand that the pressures in his part of the world are particularly acute because of both second homes and short-term lets.
Not addressed: Did not explicitly agree to make second homes a separate category of planning use class, but offered to have a conversation.
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