MP puts forward motion in Parliament to stop Government dragging their feet over Lakes housing crisis

Tim Farron MP has tabled a motion in Parliament calling on the Government to honour their commitment to allow local authorities in Cumbria to limit the number of new holiday lets.

The Government’s consultation on introducing a different category of planning use for short-term lets ended in June with a decision still to be made.

Back in October, Tim raised the issue on the floor of the House of Commons where the Housing Secretary Michael Gove pledged that the Government would “come forward shortly with our response to those consultations”.

Tim’s Early Day Motion urges the Government to proceed with changing planning law in order to “maintain housing stock that is affordable and available for local people, particularly in communities in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, the West Country, coastal communities and other popular tourist destinations.”

Tim said: “Seven months after promising to act on the explosion of holiday lets and airbnbs in our communities, it’s immensely frustrating that the Government are still dragging their feet.

“If the Government don’t crack on with this then we will see our communities die, with nowhere available for local people to stay, work and raise a family here.

“That’s why I’ve tabled a motion in Parliament, and will be encouraging MPs from rural and coastal communities from all parties to sign it.”