Little UK seaside village bans second houses – ‘so lonely in winter’ | UK | News | EUROtoday

A small seaside village within the UK was one of many first within the nation to ban second houses. The situation of vacation lets and second houses has been a scorching subject in recent times. In areas the place they’re in style, the inhabitants tends to swell in the course of the summer season months however drastically falls when the vacationer season ends. Locals usually develop pissed off with this and desire a extra secure inhabitants of residents the place they stay.

That is actually the case in Beadnell, situated on the scenic coast of Northumberland. The small village is a well-liked spot for summer season holidays with its seashore, its number of watersport actions and its well-reviewed resorts. With seemingly countless alternatives for enjoyable within the solar in one of many UK’s most scenic counties, it is no shock that second houses will not be unusual right here. But a ban aimed to deliver extra everlasting residents into the village, which has really occurred. Some residents have mentioned a brand new life has been injected into Beadnell, however others describe the lonely environment within the winter months.

Residents in Bamburgh, Beadnell and Seahouses voted to ban new-build second houses of their communities, a rule that was specified by the North-Northumberland Coast Neighbourhood Plan.

At the time, Chair of Beadnell Parish Council, Jennifer Hall, defined that the village had some streets that have been purely simply vacation houses. She mentioned: “Market forces have taken over in this area over the last 20 to 30 years.

“Before that, we had second houses the place households owned a house. They got here up so many instances a yr, they bought concerned, we knew them, they knew us, they usually knew the neighbours.”

Similar bans have been introduced in other villages and towns across the UK, including the scenic seaside town of St Ives in Cornwall.

Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Residents recently shared their thoughts on life in the town since the ban was implemented with the BBC. “I do not hate vacation lets and I do not hate second houses in any respect,” said 75-year-old Jennifer Hall. “But, in winter when there aren’t any lights on, it may be very lonely.”

“We have been considering there would come a degree when there was no person residing right here in any respect,” she added. Hall said that the ban on second homes has increased the permanent population of the village by 10%, which has “actually introduced new life” into the area.

A new housing estate, The Kilns, has welcomed new residents who now call Beadnell their main home. Jacolyn Priestley-Jayes and Tim Jayes, both in their mid-sixties, have immersed themselves in village life.

The pair host a wine club and a book club, with Jacolyn saying there is “a lot” going on amongst residents. Tim is also on the parish council.

However, Jacolyn mentioned: “There are undoubtedly some individuals who do not look like utilizing their homes as their everlasting residence, which is a disgrace.”

The policy only appears to apply to new sites, so developers can find loopholes. Hall explained: “We’ve had builders purchase up an previous home, knock it down and substitute it with an even bigger property which has change into vacation lets,” Hall says.

“So that is a frustration. We’ve constructed The Kilns, however there’s not a lot area for extra new homes.”

72-year-old Helen Coyne has a second home here but says she understands the rationale behind the ban. She said: “We’re right here no less than two or three nights each week, I exploit the stunning reward store, we exit for meals, we drink within the pubs,” she says.

“When household and mates keep, they do this much more.”