Following the National Park Authority’s decision on the 6th of March 2024 to issue an Article 4 Direction Notice for the Eryri National Park area, a 6 week public consultation period has now commenced.
In 2022 the Welsh Government introduced amendments to planning legislations that allowed Planning Authorities to introduce the Article 4 Direction to manage the use of houses as second homes and short-term holiday lets within communities. The Authority decided to consult on the implementation of this measure for the Eryri National Park area based on detailed research that highlighted a need to try and manage the use of residential properties to ensure an adequate provision of housing to meet local need.
Currently there are three categories of use for residential properties that owners can switch between without the need for planning permission; main residence, second home and short-term holiday let. The objective of the Article 4 Direction is to revoke the ability to change a main residence into a second home or short-term holiday let without securing planning permission. In doing so, this will hopefully release some houses for use by local people as a main residence in areas where there is an oversupply of second homes and short-term holiday lets.
The National Park Authority is eager to hear the public’s views on the implementation of the Article 4 Direction in the Eryri area. To this end, there will be a period of public consultation between the 12th of April and the 24th of May where the public are invited to submit comments online, on a paper form or by email. All relevant documentation is available on the National Park Authority’s website, at the National Park Authority’s Headquarters in Penrhyndeudraeth, at its Information Centres in Betws y Coed, Beddgelert and Aberdyfi, and in public libraries.
Tim Jones, Chair of the National Park Authority said:
“The implementation of the Article 4 Direction would be an important step forward in addressing the housing situation in Eryri. It would be a significant and historical move that would shape and influence the future of Eryri’s communities, so we’re keen to receive comments by a wide cross-section of Eryri’s residents or property owners.”
Following the consultation period a report will be presented to the Authority to consider the representations received and to make a final decision on the implementation of the Article 4 Direction. If it is confirmed, the Article 4 Direction will become operational for the Eryri area on the 1st of June 2025. The Article 4 Direction will not be retrospective, and therefore will not affect properties established as second homes or short-term holiday lets before this date.
Notes to Editors
- Under the new measures introduced by the Welsh Government, a Planning Authority must give a 12 month notice of intent before implementing the Article 4 Direction. Therefore, the Authority has issued a non-immediate notice of intent to implement the Article 4 Direction within the Eryri National Park Planning Authority area.
- Eryri is the second Planning Authority in Wales to initiate the implementation of the new measures, following Cyngor Gwynedd who has now completed its consultation phase.
- A property’s use is connected to the property, not its owner, therefore the Article 4 Direction won’t affect a property’s use in the event of a sale or transfer of ownership.
- As the implementation of Article 4 Direction would not be retrospective, property owners can receive a confirmation of the legal use of a property before the Direction’s implementation date by applying to the Local Planning Authority for a Lawful Development Certificate.
- Further information and all relevant documentation concerning the Article 4 Direction in Eryri are available on the Authority’s website https://planning.snowdonia.gov.wales/policy/article4
- To arrange an interview contact Gwen Aeron Edwards, Communications Officer for Planning and Land Management on gwen.aeron@eryri.llyw.cymru or 01766 770 274