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24
Sept 2023
North Yorkshire housing boss criticises plans to relax national park planning rules
North Yorkshire’s housing boss has criticised government proposals to relax planning rules in national parks.
The government says allowing the conversion of barns, offices and cafes in national parks without planning approval would help boost the supply of housing.
However, Conservative councillor Simon Myers said potential changes outlined for the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill would not resolve any of the county’s housing issues.
Cllr Myers said the authority would consider inviting one of the government ministers behind the proposed legislation to visit North Yorkshire to view the impact granting permitted development rights on barns would have on areas such as Swaledale.
The criticism from Conservative-run North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for housing and leisure follows an equally condemnatory reaction from the leaders of the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales national park authorities.
The government is consulting on its plans to remove red tape around converting empty offices, agricultural buildings and retail premises, as well as make it easier to extend commercial buildings.
Government officials have stated they would only drop the proposals if “watertight” reasons not to require planning permission emerged.
In letters raising objections to the proposals, residents and parish councils said the government was not thinking about impacts on the wider public and claimed both national parks “will be damaged beyond repair and for ever if this comes into force”.
Read more:
- Action to tackle Yorkshire Dales second homes receives ‘overwhelming support’
- Criticism as ‘affordable’ Yorkshire Dales national park houses marketed at up to £320,000
- Barn conversion ‘free for all’ could lead to ‘destruction’ of Dales, say national park leaders
Cllr Myers said the proposal was “not thinking about what the purpose of the protected landscape is, as the Yorkshire Dales was about field barns”.
Cllr Myers questioned whether the legislation would do anything to ease the county’s housing crisis or boost affordable housing.
Referring to the proposal to allow barns to be converted into homes, Cllr Myers said:
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