Council
Agenda Item 77
Date of meeting: 3 February 2022
Proposer: Councillor Williams
Seconder: Councillor Childs
Ward(s) affected: All
In order to stem the rise of second home ownership which is having a severely detrimental effect on housing supply and affordability, this Council:
1.
Supports the implementation of a principal residency policy
whereby new open-market housing planning permission will only be
granted where there is a condition restricting occupancy as a
Principal Residence – the purpose being to reduce the levels
of second homes and enable increased primary residence and
year-round community benefits;
2.
Requests the Housing and Tourism, Equalities, Communities
& Culture committees to call for a report to be submitted to
meetings of each of the committees within the next six months to
outline all possible policy steps that could be considered in order
to implement this policy and model the impact of such an approach
on both affordability and availability in the next five
years;
3. Requests that this report will highlight:
· The planning policy changes required;
· Examples of Planning Authorities where such outcomes have been successfully achieved;
· Any evidence gaps or reports required to meet standards of evidence;
· A timetable for implementation for this Authority and potential mitigations required – such as a balancing policy for the development of holiday lettings.
Supporting Information:
Principal residences are defined as those occupied as the residents’ sole or main residence, where the resident spends the majority of their time when not working away from home or living abroad.
https://www.ft.com/content/2128f460-67b0-445b-a684-bf87560a081d
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/19378734.families-priced-brighton-hove
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/19042360.rising-rent-costs-outpacing-wages-brighton-hove/
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2022-0001/
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/19211154.one-every-37-homes-brighton-hove-empty-figures-show/
https://www.airdna.co/vacation-rental-data/app/gb/south-east/brighton-and-hove/overview