Families have welcomed a decision to introduce a council tax premium on second homes to help to tackle a critical lack of affordable housing that is undermining North Yorkshire’s communities.

Members of North Yorkshire Council have today (Wednesday, February 21) backed plans to introduce a 100 per cent premium for council tax bills on second homes in the county from April next year.

The new scheme will effectively double council tax bills for second homeowners and means that North Yorkshire is one of the first areas in the country to progress with adopting the Government’s new measures.

The policy will be adopted from April 1 next year, given the requirements under the new national legislation to give second homes owners a 12-month period of notice before the charges are applied.

North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, welcomed the decision at today’s meeting of the full council to agree the council tax premium on second homes, which he claimed will play an important role in helping to provide more affordable housing.

Cllr Les said: “The need for more affordable housing has long been recognised in North Yorkshire, and we are committed to doing all we can to allow people to live in the places that they wish to.

“The fact that the county is such a wonderful place to live and work is one of its biggest draws, and as a result this has compounded the issues surrounding affordable housing.

“We also welcome visitors from across the world every year, and while there needs to be a balance with preserving the visitor economy, the current situation is simply not sustainable.

“As a council, we are leading the way to become one of the first local authorities to introduce the council tax premium on second homes. It will help to free up homes, and ensure our communities remain sustainable for the future.”

The proposals are ultimately aimed at bringing second homes back into use for local communities after many people have been priced out of the housing market in some of North Yorkshire’s most desirable locations.

It is also expected that the decision to introduce the premium will provide a multi-million pound boost to finance council priorities, including a central aim to use the funding to help introduce more housing in areas particularly affected by the affordability crisis.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for finance, Cllr Gareth Dadd, who is also the authority’s deputy leader, said: “There is an acute shortage of housing for local people in many communities in North Yorkshire, and this has been an issue that has long affected their opportunities to actually buy their own home.

“Whether it be locations such as the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors or coastal towns such as Scarborough and Whitby, the fact that these are wonderful places to live has heightened these issues.

“As a council, we are proud of such a forward-thinking scheme to introduce the council tax premium that will ideally see these second homes brought back into use for local people. But if not, then there will be a valuable new revenue stream created that will help fund council priorities, such as helping introduce more housing for local communities.”

Among the couples who have battled to find a home in North Yorkshire are David and Caroline Harper, who have two children, Phillip, aged nine, and five-year-old Lucy.

Mr Harper, 37, a teaching assistant, and his 34-year-old wife spent more than four years looking to find a suitable property to live in after they married in 2012.

They eventually managed to secure a three-bedroom house in the village of Hudswell, near Richmond, where Mr Harper grew up.

He said: “We did face particular challenges to find a home, as we had always wanted to live near our friends and family in the village where I grew up.

“It was a difficult housing market then, and it is even worse now to find a suitable property that you can afford.

“We were very fortunate to find the home we are in now, but we can relate to the issues other families are facing, particularly in rural areas of North Yorkshire.

“The council tax premium on second homes is a crucial new policy and will help to free up houses, and while there is not one single solution, this will undoubtedly help.

“It is a balancing act as the tourism industry is so important to North Yorkshire, but people deserve the right to be able to live in the communities where they want to.”

Analysis has shown that the introduction of a 100 per cent premium on council tax bills for second homes in North Yorkshire could generate between £11.5 million and £16.5 million a year in additional revenue.

The Scarborough area has the potential to bring in almost half of the additional revenue due to the large number of second homes in coastal towns such as Whitby, Scarborough and Filey.

A lack of affordable housing across North Yorkshire has been a long-running issue, accentuated in many of the county’s rural and coastal locations that are among the most desirable places to live in the country.

There is a high demand for second homes, increasing the strain on an already limited housing stock. According to figures from the National Housing Federation, there are 8,081 second homes in North Yorkshire – the highest number in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Bellway Kent Edenbridge development. Construction work is progressing well at Edenbridge, where over three quarters of the new homes for sale are now reserved.

Bellway Kent is building 319 homes at Oakley Park, off St Johns Way, where 159 of the 199 private homes have been purchased – and where new residents have already moved into 130 of those properties.

The Bellway Kent Edenbridge development is also providing 120 affordable homes available for local people – 41 for shared ownership and 79 for affordable rent – which are now all built and handed over.

A selection of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three, four and five-bedroom houses are being constructed at the development with work set to conclude at the end of 2022.

Mark Harrop, Sales Director for Bellway Kent, said: “Having now been on site at Oakley Park since 2018, the whole team have been working flat out to continue to meet the demand that we have seen from buyers who are eager to move to a growing community here in Edenbridge.

“We have witnessed interest from a diverse range of buyers who have been impressed with the selection of homes available. It has been important to offer something for everyone, with first-time buyers, upsizers and growing families looking to snap up their dream home.

“Oakley Park is in a very good location due to its proximity to Edenbridge rail station, where commuters can travel to London Bridge station in less than an hour. The development also benefits from a wide of local amenities on the doorstep, whilst retaining its rural feel as it is situated on the north-west edge of the town.

“We expect Oakley Park to continue to sell quickly, so we would advise all prospective buyers to contact the sales team and arrange to visit the development.”

A selection of properties is currently available, with prices starting from £374,995 for a two-bedroom mid-terrace Romney house type.

For more information on the homes available at Oakley Park, call 01732 622576 or visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/kent/oakley-park.

Property & Development Magazine

A new collection of homes at The Hawthorns by award winning housebuilder Hill has just been unveiled. The selection of three and four bedroom family houses are conveniently located on the edge of the historic Cambridgeshire village of Sawston, surrounded by picturesque countryside. Ready to move into from October, and now over 50% sold, these exciting homes perfectly balance rural country living with seamless connections to both Cambridge and London.

For those seeking an idyllic lifestyle for their families, Sawston is sure to impress. A rural centre, the village features a range of amenities including a selection of cafes and pubs, a doctors surgery, a village hall as well as three Ofsted rated ‘Good’ schools for children of all ages. The region’s newest business park, The Works at Unity Campus is just a 10 minute cycle ride away and the world renowned Cambridge Biomedical Campus is a short five mile drive from home. The historical city of Cambridge is just seven miles away and is perfect for either an evening or day away from home. Lined with an array of tasty restaurants, museums, independent shops and boutiques as well as theatres, there is plenty to keep the family entertained.

Rebecca Littler, Group Sales and Marketing Director at Hill comments: “The Hawthorns is one of our most picturesque housing collections. Exteriors have been created to blend in with the existing landsape and interiors are spacious in design in order to cater for the whole household. Perfect for families with young children, residents profit from well sized gardens as well as access to onsite play areas and local footpaths. The village of Sawston itself is a hub of activity with an already established thriving community at is centre, we are sure that prospective purchasers will be pleased with the offering here.”

Sawston offers excellent transport links for residents by both rail and road. It is situated less than three miles from the A11 and less than four miles from the M11, while Whittlesford railway station (two miles away) offers direct links to London Liverpool Street in just 1 hour and 15 minutes and Cambridge Train Station in 11 minutes. A regular bus service from Sawston to Cambridge operates every 15 to 30 minutes.

Prices start from £409,950 for a three bedroom semi detached customisable house. To book a viewing or for further information visit www.hawthorns-sawston.co.uk or call 01223 607505.

Property & Development Magazine