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Wales: Gwynedd, a county located in the north-west of Wales, has become the first area in the country to bring in new rules that will require homeowners to obtain planning permission if they want to turn their main property into a second home or holiday let.
The rules became effective on Sunday [1 September], as the county council [Cyngor Gwynedd] brought in an Article 4 direction to manage the impact of housing on the local community. The council changed the rules in order to address what it is calling a “huge housing crisis” in the area.
From now on, a homeowner will need to secure planning permission if they want to use their main home as a second home or short-term holiday let, to rent out a second home as a holiday let, or to use a holiday let as a second home. The planning changes will not be retrospective, however, so any property that has already been used as a second home or holiday let will not require a fresh planning application if its use has already been established.
Before Sunday, homeowners were able to use a home for part of the year as a holiday let without obtaining planning permission.
The Welsh government recently altered planning regulations to create three new use classes for properties: a main home, a second home, or short-term holiday accommodation. The ruling made it possible for the council in Gwynedd to bring in the Article 4 direction, which can require homeowners to obtain permission to change their property from one property use class to another.
Supporters of Article 4 in Gwynedd claim that the proliferation of holiday lets and second homes in the county have driven up housing prices in the area and reduced the number of affordable properties available. Others who endorse the change in the rules say that it will help to protect both their language [Welsh] and their communities.
Opponents of the change in rules say it will devalue homes in the area and make homes harder to sell as a result. A campaign group – People of Gwynedd Against Article 4 – has also been set up to raise money for a legal challenge.
After Gwynedd, Eryri National Park Authority – which covers the area also known as Snowdonia – is also said to be considering implementing Article 4.
The Welsh government has discussed bringing in controls to limit the number of second homes and holiday lets for a number of years.
In January, it announced plans to shake up the country’s tourism industry by introducing a statutory registration scheme for all visitor accommodation. The prospective legislation could be introduced to the Senedd [the Welsh Parliament] by the end of the year as the government seeks to “enhance the visitor experience and visitor safety expectations in Wales”.
