A SOUTH Cumbria MP has reflected on the news that the Lake District has seen a 'large increase' in the number of breaches of planning control related to holiday lets.

Tim Farron said he was not surprised and pinpointed South Lakeland as an area that had been 'battling' with the issue of holiday lets 'for years'.

Mr Farron, who represents Westmorland and Lonsdale, said: "The rise of Airbnb and the rapid increase in holiday lets have pushed local residents out of the area, and those who have lived here for years are having to move to be able to find a home they can begin their future in.

“I am determined in my fight to get holiday lets classed as a specific type of planning use so that local authorities have the power to curb the spread of second homes and holiday lets and to ensure that homes are in the hands of local residents."

The news about the increase in planning control breaches came on the back of statistics that showed the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) served four times as many enforcement notices as any other national park authority in the year ending March 2022.

Notices were served against unlawful holiday lets, glamping units, caravans, a golf course and more. 

Dr Geoff Davies, chairman of the LDNPA's development control committee, said the authority took 'firm action' to ensure people adhered to planning rules, 'particularly when it comes to housing for locals'. 

"When a planning condition clearly says a property must be someone’s permanent home, there really is no excuse for holiday-letting it," he said.

In the year ending March 2022, the LDNPA served 34 planning enforcement notices.

Julie Birkett, LDNPA enforcement planning manager, said: "It’s easy for people to check if what they want to do is lawful.

"Unfortunately, we still see unauthorised and unacceptable developments taking place, meaning formal action is needed, and that can be very costly to put right.

"We would much rather people took advice before they embarked on any new builds or changes to existing buildings."