A Lake District housing trust has led the development of new legislation to protect homes in the area for local people after three years of work.
Lakeland Housing Trust, working with the Lake District National Park Authority, has developed new legislation.
In recent years, the rise in second home ownership and holiday letting has deeply affected rural communities.
Lakeland Housing Trust owns and lets properties at 60% of market value rent to local people.
It currently provides homes for over 50 families and has grown its portfolio through legacies and property bequests.
To enable the trust to deliver affordable long-term housing for residents, the charity has led the development of a bespoke Section 106 Unilateral Undertaking Agreement in partnership with the Lake District National Park Authority.
It is designed to create permanent residences through the increased availability of local housing, which will improve local economic sustainability.
Yasmin Blamire, senior associate solicitor at the Kendal office of North West law firm Napthens, is a trustee of the charity.
She said: “The subject of housing in the place I was born and raised is close my heart, which is why I’ve got involved in this new approach to tackling the housing crisis in our communities.
“The trust’s new Section 106 Agreement protects homes for local people, making it easier for families to live and work in the place they love.”
Richard Dobson, trustee at Lakeland Housing Trust, said: “Housing issues for local people in areas such as the Lake District are well known, but trying to create a solution has not been easy.
“It has taken three years to pull together, and crafted with the expertise of specialist planning consultants, solicitors and a barrister.
“Now is the time we can look at how it will directly impact people and families, as they move into properties they previously thought they couldn’t afford.”
A Section 106 Agreement is a legally binding planning obligation between a property owner and a local planning authority, to mitigate the impact of the development on the local community and infrastructure.
In this case, the LHT’s Section 106 has been produced to tackle a shortage of housing available for occupation by people who work and live in the Lake District.
Properties registered under the agreement must be occupied as a principal residence. Short-term holiday letting is prohibited, and any tenancies must be a minimum of 12 months.
