Affordable Homes Quota Stipulation
A trawl of information available online indicates that, with the Mains of Taymouth Phase 3 proposals, the Fearnan Marina plans, the Killin Golf Course scheme and a clutch of proposed houses on the south lochside and development rumblings along the north side of Loch Tay at various points, there are considerably over 200 holiday homes in the pipeline between Kenmore and Killin.
This calculation does not include the fractional ownership units and other Kenmore developments as part of the Taymouth Castle scheme. |
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Loophole
The planning clause introduced in 2005 making it a requirement for new dwelling developments of more than five plots to have a 25% quota of affordable homes, or carry a levy of the cash equivalent, has - apparently - got a loophole.
This stipulation does NOT apply to new-builds that are being built for holiday/occasional or second home use, as such units are required to be occupied for a maximum of 60% of any year. Such a habitation requirement is, of course, completely unpoliceable.
A posting in the Forum in commentonline claims that, if that figure of 200 is correct, and if all of them are being angled to avoid the affordable housing quota, then that is tantamount to a loss of 40 potential homes for locals. Some househunting locals are described as being “many generations in the area and yet are being ‘ethnically cleansed’ by the property price mechanism.
“It can be argued that our whole community is being ruled by proxy by once-a-year ‘residents’ and visitors.”
Affordable Homes The Key
Protestations that the increase in tourism’s influence on a local economy is vital for the retention and development of infrastructure and essential services are rebutted. The case is pressed that viable ways of life need to be developed to be led by local inhabitants, and that the cornestone for this - and for housing workers in the service sector generally - is the provision of affordable homes for them to dwell in.
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