Lib Dems on Kendal Town Council call for action on affordable housing crisis

Last night, Liberal Democrats on Kendal Town Council voted in favour of urging the Government to give local authorities the power to tackle the affordable housing crisis in Kendal.

A motion put forward by Cllr Doug Rathbone and seconded by Cllr Helen Ladhams was unanimously passed at a meeting of full council.

The motion calls on the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to:

1. Require property owners to seek planning permission before converting their properties to second homes, Airbnbs and other holiday lets thereby handing local authorities the power to control the number and location of such properties in Kendal and the surrounding communities.

2. Grant local authorities the power to charge a council tax premium on second homes in excess of the current 100% maximum.

3. Grant planning authorities the power to demand more affordable homes from developers, up to 100% of a development.

4. Grant planning authorities the power to suspend a development if developers attempt to exploit viability assessments to reduce the number of affordable homes without the express consent of the planning authority.

The motion also urges South Lakeland District and the new Westmorland and Furness Council to use any and all powers available to them to ensure that any dwelling in any future planning application becomes or remains a primary residence.

Speaking after the vote, Doug said: "I'm glad that my fellow councillors voted to back this motion.

"We desperately need to make sure that any new developments here in Kendal actually lead to homes being built which local people can afford.

"If the Government don't give local councils the power to enforce this then we will see local families forced to move from the area, with devastating consequences for our community and our local economy."