S Poddar
A tiny Northumberland village has fought off a bid to bring in more holiday lets, the second time that a similar plan has been rejected. Residents of Dunstan, a village near the coast, are rejoicing after the local council refused an application for two new holiday cottages.
The plan, by hotelier Janet Stansfield, was for two developments on land north and east of Dunstan House. Although it was recommended for approval by council planners, the application was rejected. This follows a similar rejection in April 2023, illustrating the community’s solid opposition to additional holiday development.
Dunstan is already well affected by tourism, with 55% of its residences serving as holiday homes. This strong percentage has made its way into local policy, such as the Craster Neighbourhood Plan, which aims to prevent new housing unless used as full-time residences. Furthermore, the Northumberland Local Plan dictates that second homes are excluded from regions in which more than 20% of dwellings are not used as permanent residences.
In spite of these controls, council planners also maintained that the holiday lets under proposal should not be considered as second homes. They argued that since the houses were specifically designed for holiday rental purposes, they did not fall within the parameters of current restrictions. Stuart Palmer, the agent of the applicant, also upheld this interpretation and said in a recent council meeting that the scheme was intended to establish a holiday resort and not permanent second homes.
“The aim is to build a holiday resort on site, not to produce second homes. It would cost more than £3,500 per week to stay in one of these houses,” Palmer said.
Residents were determined to resist, though. Worries were expressed that the increasing disparity between short-term holiday lets and long-term homes was stripping the village of its community. Short-term rental properties are expected to increase significantly, and many long-term residents are concerned this will drive up property prices, preventing young families from being able to afford housing in the region.
The debate surrounding holiday homes and Northumberland is emblematic of a larger debate in the UK, where rural and coastal towns are dealing with the effects of tourist-led housing markets. The arrival of tourists brings benefits in terms of economic gain but also presents challenges, not least in keeping living costs down and supporting local services.
This new decision serves to emphasize the council’s determination to safeguard local interests ahead of commercial tourism development. Although tourism is an important sector of Northumberland’s economy, it is also important that residents are able to continue living and working in their communities.
The refusal of the application is considered a triumph for those promoting sustainable coexistence between tourism and local life. With increasing holiday home demand, however, the question is unlikely to be laid to rest forever. Future applications may still probe the resilience of local policies intended to maintain the essence and availability of villages such as Dunstan.
For the time being, at least, the villagers of Dunstan can rest easy in the knowledge that their village will not be subject to further holiday development encroachment.
