Regenerate Our Villages

Here:

Just as key workers are finding it impossible to buy or rent in cities, families and young people are losing the struggle to stay in their "idyllic" rural communities ("Sun, sand and inequality", In Focus).

If a levy were added to the purchase price of a second home based on the cost of replacing a dwelling, this fund could be ploughed directly into new housing projects.

These could be in the form of grants for small-scale self-build or affordable housing for local people. 

Alternatively, a massive hike in council tax for owner-unoccupied dwellings could be considered.

If people could better afford to live and work in their locality, it would strengthen communities and regenerate our villages.

It would arguably help to combat social problems associated with unsatisfactory housing and the lowered expectations highlighted in your article.

Sean Geraghty

Bridport

Even  more urgently, we need to abolish the delegation of planning decisions from Councillors to Officers, and to require change of use in order to convert a main home into a second home.