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Plans approved to limit second homes at national park

Rob Thomas
BBC News
Getty Images A landscape view of Yr Wyddfa in Eryri National ParkGetty Images
Residents are being priced out of homes in Eryri National Park, local groups say

People wanting to turn a house into a second home or holiday accommodation at Wales' largest national park will have to apply for planning permission.

Eryri National Park Authority (ENPA) becomes the first park to use the powers, granted by the Welsh government in October 2022, which aims to control the number of second homes.

The Article 4 directive means anyone who wants to convert a domestic dwelling into a second home must receive approval from the relevant authority's planning committee – in this case ENPA.

The body says that over half of the population of Eryri – also known as Snowdonia – have been priced out of the housing market, with some areas as many as 80%.

Gwynedd council was previously the only local authority to have used the new controls.

The park received 357 responses during the 12-month public engagement period, with those against the plans saying it would have a negative impact on house prices, as well as tourism and the economy.

Those in favour identified the need to control the number of summer homes, and said the plans would help ensure sustainable and viable communities, and help protect the Welsh language.

Shan Ashden, who has lived in the area for 50 years, also welcomed the plans, stressing it would not be a "blanket ban on holiday makers" as some suggested.

She said she had nothing against those who own second homes but that they "gut a community", while also closing schools and shops.

Ms Ashden added that her community has "changed dramatically" in the past five decades, but said the new plans were about "getting the balance right".

"What it will enable communities and the national park to do is it will be part of a network of actions that will help us get balance back into our communities," she said.

A woman with short grey and brown hair, wearing a yellow snood and a red and blue plaid jacket
Shan Ashden said her community has changed drastically in the last 50 years

Cymdeithas yr Iaith (the Welsh Language Society) described it as an "important first step" to limiting the number of second homes and holiday accommodation in order to "improve the availability of homes for local people".

But others were critical of the decision.

Councillor John Brynmor Hughes said the second homes in Eryri are "already here", adding that some people will have "negative equity" on their house because of Article 4.

He added that many local businesses, including shops, pubs and supermarkets, are struggling.

"The message is given, 'You're not making us feel welcome – if you don't want us, why should we support your business?' A few people have said that to me," he said.