At a meeting of the Eryri National Park Authority’s Planning and Access Committee today, a recommendation to implement an Article 4 Direction for the National Park area as a tool to manage the use of residential properties as second homes or short-term holiday lets, was approved.
In April 2024, the Eryri National Park Authority issued an official notice of intent to implement an Article 4 Direction in Eryri, followed by a six-week consultation period on its implementation. Over subsequent months, Planning Policy Officers considered the representations received and conducted further research into any relevant concerns. They concluded that no additional information had been put forward that would justify a reversal of the intention to implement an Article 4 Direction in Eryri. Members voted with the recommendation to implement the Direction in the Eryri National Park.
From the 1st of June 2025 onwards, planning permission will be required to change the use of a residential property into a short-term holiday let or second home within the Eryri National Park boundary. In turn, this will lead to better management of housing stock in Eryri by preventing a further reduction in houses available for local communities.
The Eryri National Park Authority is the second Planning Authority in Wales to implement this new measure, following in the footsteps of Cyngor Gwynedd who has implemented the Article 4 Direction since September 2024 in those areas of Gwynedd that do not fall within the National Park boundary.
Councillor Edgar Wyn Owen, Chair of the Eryri National Park Authority said:
“Today is a historic day for Eryri, as we take an important step to ensure a prosperous future for our communities.
Research has shown that a significant proportion of people have been priced out of the housing market in areas where there is a high proportion of second homes or short-term holiday lets. In implementing the Article 4 Direction, we can begin to manage the number of residential dwellings used for these purposes in our communities, giving local people an opportunity to live in their community. In turn, this will safeguard living communities that nurture the next generation and supports the rural economy throughout the year.”
The Article 4 Direction will not be retrospective and therefore will not affect properties in Eryri used as second homes or short-term holiday lets before the 1st of June 2025.