Holiday homes used as a 'scapegoat' for Welsh housing issues

‘SCAPEGOATED’ holiday homes are not the problem says the campaign group that successfully challenged Gwynedd’s ‘fundamentally flawed’ second homes rule.

- By OWEN HUGHES

Cyngor Gwynedd was the first local authority in Wales to introduce an Article 4 Direction, which requires people to get planning permission for second homes and holiday lets.

It was in response to the proliferation of holiday properties in some coastal and rural communities amid concerns locals were being priced out the market.

But this was challenged by the People of Gwynedd Against Article 4 (PGAA4) campaign group. This week they secured a victory at the High Court.

This was after they successfully argued that the council's Cabinet may have been ‘misled’ over the nature and extent of the changes to the county's planning regime.

Cyngor Gwynedd said it intends to seek permission to appeal. The Article 4 directive will remain in place at this time.

A statement has now been released by the campaign group.

‘They said: “We are delighted with the Judge’s decision and incredibly proud of our wonderful community, whose determination and unity have made this Judicial Review possible.

“The Judge found that the council's planning department fundamentally misled the Cabinet by failing to clarify that the direction applied only to material changes of use, not all changes of use.

“As a result, the Judge determined that, had the Cabinet been properly informed, it might well have reached a different conclusion when weighing the potential detriment to residents against the supposed benefits of the direction.