Planning authorities should take second homes into account
Planning authorities should take second homes into account
The impact of second home ownership on the housing market should be taken into account by regional planning authorities. A new report says that the demand for second homes should be factored into the development of regional housing strategies. If not, other buyers could face an undersupply of housing.
The report from the
National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) analyses the
impact of second homes on the private housing market. The NHPAU is an independent body set up to advise all levels of government on housing supply and affordability.
The NHPAU's latest report investigates where gaps exist in the relationship between second homes and the
private housing market. It also looks at whether the assumptions that the growth of the
second home market has contributed to increasing
house prices can be backed up by facts.
"The topic of second homes is one of considerable debate and controversy. But while this is an area that generates a great deal of heat, robust
evidence about the social, economic and environmental
consequences of second homes is actually limited," said Professor Glen Bramley of the NHPAU.
"It is easy to see why regional planning authorities aren't allowing for second homes in their housing strategies, [and] this needs to change." Bramley warned that a failure to plan for second home ownership could create
undersupply for other buyers.
The report also suggests that the
demand for second homes will continue to grow as working patterns change and the existing UK population gets wealthier.
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