An affordable home intended for local people in Keswick was given months to continue operating as an Airbnb holiday let – despite being reported to the authorities a year ago.
Local housing campaigners have complained that on October 13 last year, the Lake District National Park Authority was given evidence that the property in Southey Street – ring-fenced for local need – was being let out to tourists, in a breach of the park’s planning rules.
Yet it has now emerged that the LDNPA allowed the use to continue by giving the owner up until September 20 this year to stop.
Fed-up campaigners battling Keswick’s affordable housing crisis have called for quicker and firmer action in future.
The LDNPA – massively under pressure due to an enforcement case backlog – said: “We understand this case has taken longer to resolve than people would like.”
Colin Thorns, a former member of Keswick Community Housing Trust, claimed he was told:
- The LDNPA could not respond immediately as they were short-staffed;
- Started investigating in March 2022 – six months after the breach was reported;
- Then said enforcement action could not be taken due to continued staffing struggles and rising caseloads;
- Had to be “chased for action” as the property continued to be let to tourists.
Mr Thorns said: “Twelve months after they were notified and provided with all the necessary evidence, this property continued to be used as holiday let.”
The town’s mayor called it “astonishing” that the breach was allowed to continue and a prominent councillor slammed the enforcement process as moving at a “near glacial” pace.
Tim Farron MP too called it “simply unacceptable” that it could take 12 months to resolve, but in the park’s defence, he has argued that its under-pressure enforcement teams need more resources as they try to clear a backlog of breaches.
The LDNPA told the Reminder that the landowner was advised that if unauthorised use did not cease by September 20, it would go to the courts seeking an injunction.
“The property has now been removed from holiday lettings sites. We understand this case has taken longer to resolve than people would like.”
Cllr Tony Lywood said: “It is my view, as a Cumbria County Councillor for Keswick, that on the enforcement of local occupancy restrictions the Lake District National Park’s response time is best described as just above glacial. This issue of local occupancy should be at the top of their priorities not half way down the list.”
Last autumn, a joint team of town councillors and the Keswick Community Housing Trust started to identify properties in Keswick were local occupancy but being used for tourism to try and get to grips with the housing problem.
Keswick mayor Steve Harwood said of the LDNPA: “They were provided with comprehensive documentation which did show a very clear breach of the local occupancy planning condition. We felt this was an absolute cast iron case in a situation where the owner could have been in no doubt about the planning condition and a prime case to make an example of as a deterrent to others. This was followed up periodically with no action taken.
“It is astonishing it has taken a year to get to this point despite the claims that the LDNPA is high on the list of the best performing authorities in taking enforcement action.”
The LDNPA explained that in order to ultimately enforce the rule and get an injunction – it requires a barrister to make an application to the courts.
Cllr Harwood said: “They appear to be taking a line that it needs the costly input of a barrister before they can safely pursue enforcement action. This is at odds with the approach adopted by Allerdale Borough Council on similar breaches reported.
“They have adopted a staged approach through their legal department by sending out warning letters that a breach has been reported and giving them the option to rectify the situation. This has been far more successful and has resulted in properties being removed as holiday lets and returned to use as family homes.”
Mr Farron said it was clear the LDNPA needed more resources: “Local authorities absolutely need more funding and resources to enforce this and that is something I’ve been calling for extensively as a member of the Levelling Up Bill Committee.”
The LDNPA has reported a “large increase” in the number of breaches of planning control relating to unauthorised holiday lets – not just in Keswick, but across the park.
Addressing criticisms the LDNPA pointed out it is regarded as the “among the most active” local planning authorities nationally in respect of enforcement action. It was 22nd of 322 local planning authorities for the number of planning enforcement notices served last year.
Furthermore, it had taken more enforcement action than any other of England’s 10 national parks, the spokesman said.
