Tax on second homes to fund affordable housing

Whitby is a popular spot for second home owners in North Yorkshire

An extra £1m a year will be put towards affordable housing in North Yorkshire - paid for with the council tax premium on second homes.

Twenty-four community-led housing groups across the county will be able to bid for a share of the money, agreed at a meeting of senior North Yorkshire councillors.

North Yorkshire Council approved a 100% council tax second home premium in 2022, which will appear on bills from April next year.

Simon Myers, executive member for culture, arts and housing, said: "I believe it's a good way of us delivering housing where otherwise it is very hard to deliver."

Myers told the meeting officials had recommended the project's funding runs over the next three years.

He said the money could be used by housing groups to develop projects they then submit to the planning process.

They could choose tenure type, size and allocation policies for the properties, and draw an income from them.

Myers said: "Let's hope the success of this brings forward more projects.

"There have been some really good small schemes by communities."

'Make no apology'

When the council tax premium was confirmed, Gareth Dadd, the authority's deputy leader, said it brought him "deep pride".

Speaking as the extra £1m was agreed, Dadd said members were likely to come under "immense pressure" from second home owners seeking to avoid extra council tax on their bills.

He said: "Perhaps this is the first reason you can point to for why we are doing this.

"And I will take this opportunity to say 'I make no apology for doing it,' because we can now see the benefits."

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