GREATER powers to control the numbers of holiday homes is being requested of Welsh Government, as Ceredigion councillors try to a way of helping young people stay in their communities.

In a Notice of Motion, approved at full council on Thursday (June 17), Ceredigion County Council calls on Welsh Government to add a clause to the Planning Act.

The clause would make it compulsory to make a planning application before obtaining the right to convert a residential home into a holiday home or a holiday let.

It would also seek to adapt the policy framework to allow for maximum thresholds to be set with regard to the number of holiday homes within a given area.

And it would also make it compulsory for second-home owners to ask for planning permission before turning a second home into a holiday business or an AirBnB business.

Councillors raised wider issues, including the authority’s own planning policy in the Local Development Plan, the idea of a tourism tax being explored by Welsh Government, and the need for more houses to be built.

Cllr Mark Strong, who proposed the motion, said a lack of available and affordable housing was an increasing issue in west Wales.
“It’s important that communities don’t suffer and people that work here can afford to live here,” he said.

“Building more houses is not the only solution, and local authorities need Welsh Government to listen to what we are saying very carefully.

“Thousands of people in west Wales are now suffering the risk of not being able to buy their own home because of the unfair competition that comes from rich people who can buy second or third homes."

Seconding the motion was council leader Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn, who said a committee in Cardiff would be discussing second homes.

The motion was unanimously approved, although a number of councillors withdrew due to personal and prejudicial interests on the matter.

A separate recommendation from scrutiny that a 100 per cent council tax premium be levied on holiday homes be explored was also discussed and it was resolved that officers would prepare a full report.

Cllr ap Gwynn said more work was needed, including consideration of the impact the current 25 per cent levy has had on the number of properties turned into holiday businesses and the loss of income this has.

She said consideration should also be given to how other authorities use levy funds to support young people buy homes, renovate and build homes.

It was agreed that a report on taxation issues and how any revenue raised could be spent be prepared.