Minister queries legality of 'locals-only' policy (From Western Telegraph)

Minister queries legality of 'locals-only' policy

THE divisive policy restricting housing development in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park to local people is legally questionable according to a National Assembly minister.

It is now ten months since the National Park Authority in Pembrokeshire implemented its 'locals-only' controls, restricting new houses and conversions to people who have lived in the area for more than three years.

This week Sue Essex, Assembly Minister for the Environment, fuelled the controversy by suggesting that the Government did not support such policies.

Referring to recent research examining the relationship between housing and planning issues, she said: "It confirms the government view that 'locals-only' controls are generally legally questionable and difficult to enforce, and that requiring planning permission for changing from a first to a second home results in similar fundamental problems.''

The report, based on the 'Second and Holiday Homes and the Land Use Planning System Research Project', was commissioned by the Assembly and its suggestions include creating specific sites in development plans for both affordable homes and second homes.

"Our next step is to work closely with local authorities in the 'hotspots' on the implications of this work and the best way to use our current guidance in addressing their problems,'' said Sue Essex.

Despite criticism over its housing policy, the National Park Authority has not backed down.

A spokesman said members of the National Park's Policy Committee would consider a detailed report of this research at its meeting next Wednesday. "The policy authority has contributed to this process through its membership of the project's steering group,'' he said.

People have an opportunity to say exactly what they think of the 'locals-only' policy over the next six weeks.

A consultation period relating to the Joint Unitary Development Plan will be followed by a public inquiry next September.

A National Park spokesman said there had been 4,500 representations made regarding the plan but only 3% related to the controversial policy 47. "All the responses are being analysed,'' he said.