Locals support new holiday homes ban
A BAN on new-build holiday homes has won local support on the Northumberland coast.
Campaigners said some North Northumberland towns were becoming “ghost towns” over winter months, as properties were snapped up for second homes and holiday rentals, making it too expensive for locals to live in them.
After a local referendum on Thursday, a new planning framework for the area will restrict the creation of new buildings for temporary accommodation and, it’s hoped, ensure affordable houses can be marketed for families who want to live on the coast.
Under the scheme, which is around four years in the making, developers in the parishes of Beadnell, North Sunderland and Bamburgh will only be able to create new homes if they are restricted for primary occupation “in perpetuity”.
It also includes restrictions on the design of any new builds to ensure they fit with the character of the area, which is noted for its beauty, as well as plans to address issues like car parking, traffic and the availability of community facilities.
Proponents of the plan say it won’t harm existing tourism in towns like Seahouses and Beadnell, but will help “preserve” coastal areas for locals and visitors alike. Locals voted overwhelmingly in favour of the plan, with 767 voting in favour and just 85 people voting against.
Bamburgh councillor Guy Renner-Thompson said: “The turnout has been extraordinary, almost double that of the Alnwick and Denwick Neighbourhood Plan, which shows how passionate people are about the coast.”
He said the scheme had attracted national interest, with people from other areas popular with tourists getting in touch to find out more about Northumberland’s plans.
He added: “I’d like to point out this isn’t part of an anti-tourism agenda, like some people have made out.
“The whole ethos of the plan is to preserve our coastline and coastal villages to keep them the special places they are, which encourages the visitors so many local people rely on. The plan has no effect on houses already built, but will make sure there are also homes for residents, keeping our communities fit for the future.”