a place in the country: the contribution of second homes to north devon communities a place in the...

A place in the country: The contribution of second homes to

North Devon communities

Jenny Barnett

Centre for Sport, Leisure and Tourism Research  - University of ExeterResearch Showcase Event – April 23rd 2012

North Devon Council

• In collaboration with North Devon Council: Dr. Mike Kelly, Planning Manager Andrew Austen, Planning Officer

Percentage of Second Homes

England North Devon

Braunton Brendon & Countisbury

Fremington Georgeham Instow0

5

10

15

20

25

% of second homes as based on 90% council tax rate (data from North Devon Council except 'England' - Commission for Rural Communities)

Exploring Second Homes

• To examine the value and contribution of second home ownership to communities, framed within UK planning’s statutory sustainable communities agenda.

• Describe relationships and perceived relationships between second homes and house prices;

• Explore the opinions towards second homes ;• Socio – economic impacts and policy recommendations.

Average house price : average income ratio

2010 Ward level 2010

2010 Ward level 2010

2010 Ward level 2010

Instow Georgeham Brendon & Countisbury

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Mean House Price: Median 2008 Salary

Median House Price: Median 2008 Salary

Lower Quartile

National (Halifax 2010)

North Devon Council Average (Affordability Briefing Note, 2010)

North Devon Council Affordabil-ity Definition

Primary Data Collection

Summary Findings

• Case by case - each household is different.

• Concern about lack of control in future and lack of regulation (occupancy, bin collection, extensions).

• Higher range of annual local spend from second homes owners but a greater minimal spend annually from permanent residents.

10 %

23 %

36%

Second homes: contribution

51% 46%

Second homes: contribution

62% 8%

Second homes: previous use

House prices

“They put up the property price, the local property price and errm so young families can’t afford to live in Instow. There was a house for sale over the

summer I think and it said “The most reasonably priced house in Instow” and it was up for £199,000 and that’s not a family home, so that’s a big problem.”

“Oddly enough I don’t think second homes are the problem. They’re a small part of the problem but the fundamental problem is the lack of affordable

supply of housing in a low wage area”

“Properties lost to second homes will have a knock on effect in terms of a) house prices and b) availability”

“The area is such a beautiful place to live and to holiday that any available house is

being snapped up now by second homes...and because of that they’re over

inflating the price of the property and taking it out of the reach of the finances

of...the indigenous population”

• Research presented here was conducted during an ESRC Studentship under its Capacity Building Clusters Award (RES-187-24-0002) in partnership with North Devon Council (Mike Kelly and Andrew Austen)

• For more information about this project and the work of the Centre for Sport, Leisure and Tourism research, see www.ex.ac.uk/slt/ourresearch/tourismcommunityandsustainabilitysecondhomeownership/

• Jenny Barnett J.E.Barnett@exeter.ac.uk

Thank you for listening