A Welsh national park has insisted its second homes policy is not "discriminatory" to English people. On Wednesday, Eryri National Park's authority (also known as Snowdonia) voted to make planning permission a requirement for anyone wanting to change a property into a second home.
Gwynedd Council has already introduced such a measure, with the national park stretching across parts of the county and neighbouring Conwy. It comes amid a crackdown by the Welsh government on second home ownership, including allowing councils to increase the council tax premium on second homes to 300%.
While the decision on where to set the premium is up to individual councils, it has led to a surge in the number of houses on the market in some parts of Wales. The government says it made the change to ensure people in Wales had access to "good quality, affordable housing".
In 2021, then climate change minister Julie James outlined the government's "three-pronged approach" and said a "high concentration of second homes or holiday lets can have a very detrimental impact on small communities". Corridor care 'normalised' at Princess of Wales Hospital, coroner says.
Queen Victoria bust disappears from Llandudno after over 130 years. Duo found guilty of murdering fellow hotel guest in 'sustained' street attack. Eryri National Park authority consulted with the public on its proposal for an Article 4 direction, which limits how much work can be carried out without needing planning permission from the local authority.
