Title

PLANNING

Short-term lets to need planning permission

The Government has announced new rules to give communities greater control over short-term lets in their areas.

The Government has announced new rules to give communities greater control over short-term lets in their areas.

A consultation by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities proposed introducing a requirement for planning permission to be gained for a home to be used as a short-term let.

It said this would help support local people in areas where high numbers of holiday lets are preventing them from finding affordable housing.

The new proposals come as the Department for Culture, Media & Sport launched a separate consultation on a new registration scheme for short-term lets, aimed at finding out how many there are and where they are located.

Local government secretary Michael Gove said: ‘Tourism brings many benefits to our economy but in too many communities we have seen local people pushed out of cherished towns, cities and villages by huge numbers of short-term lets.

‘I'm determined we ensure more people have access to local homes at affordable prices and that we prioritise families desperate to rent or buy a home of their own close to where they work.'

PLANNING

AI: Keeping the human touch in local government

By James Malia | 22 September 2026

James Malia explains why local authorities are paying double to bring back human judgement.

PLANNING

Scots council map to be torn up

By Martin Ford | 22 September 2026

The Scottish Government has announced proposals for a major shake-up of councils.

PLANNING

Sandwell: Taking action when your borough has the media attention no place wants

By Shokat Lal | 22 September 2026

Shokat Lal looks at turning reputational risk into decisive action when your borough makes the headlines for the wrong reasons.

PLANNING

Getting ahead of council reform in Nottinghamshire

By Ann McGauran | 22 September 2026

Nottinghamshire’s councils are developing a framework covering safe, legal, transformational and operational changes, ready to support reorganisation if it r...

Popular articles by Mark Whitehead

-->