Homes ban on non locals (From Western Telegraph)

Homes ban on non locals

A BITTER row over moves to ban incomers from building holiday and retirement homes in Pem-brokeshire could escalate into a courtroom battle.

Pembrokeshire Coast Nat-ional Park Authority may face a legal challenge to a plan it says will regenerate communities and create affordable housing for local people. Opponents argue it is discriminatory, but supporters say it doesnt go far enough.

Developers applying to build new houses or convert existing buildings in the National Park will have to prove they will be occupied by people who are local or in need, if the policy is implemented.

The authority says it is the only way of safeguarding for local people the limited new housing development opportunities remaining in the National Park. Although the proposal is still being debated, it has already come into effect to prevent attempts to beat a ban.

The policy could now be adopted as part of the Joint Unitary Development Plan drawn up by the National Park and Pembrokeshire County Council. At present, the ban on development by outsiders only applies within the National Park.

One man who has been holidaying in Lawrenny with his family for 39 years, and had been on the verge of securing planning permission on a plot in the village, is investigating whether there is a legal challenge to this policy.

Salesman Keith Williams was about to pay local landowner, David Lort-Phillips, £30,000 for a plot of land.

He currently lives in Cardiff but aimed to retire to the village with his wife, Deidre. It now looks likely that the sale will be abandoned.

We were looking for a lifestyle change but now, through no fault of our own, it has been ripped away, says Keith.

He sympathises with the housing needs of local people but says this will only compound the problem. He believes it will send the price of existing properties soaring as incomers, denied the right to build, compete for houses.

But supporters, including local politicians, have applauded the National Park Authority on becoming the first planning body in Wales to tackle the rural housing issue.

Plaid Cymru AM for Pembrokeshire Cynog Dafis wants the ban to go further with owners of second homes being charged a 200% Council Tax. A ban is not enough. We must provide affordable housing to encourage people to stay in Wales, he says.

Preseli MP Jackie Lawrence agrees action is needed to preserve local communities.

The National Park Authority stresses that the public will get a chance to have its say on the proposals. Referring to public consultation process, the authoritys chairman, Councillor Gordon Cawood says: There will be a great variety of ways in which to register comments. These are very important.