We need a national policy that gives local councils the power to limit the number of new properties built specifically for holiday lets or second homes. My town of Bakewell is drowning in them, and it’s pushing ordinary families out because there’s nowhere for them to live.
This isn't just about aesthetics; it's about the survival of our community. Local shops are closing because there aren't enough residents to support them year-round. The schools are struggling to fill places. We’re becoming a theme park, not a living, breathing village, and the people who actually live and work here are paying the price.
Local planning committees should have a mandatory cap, say 10% of all new housing stock, that can be designated as holiday lets. Anything over that needs to be full-time residential housing.
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