Andrew George

I rise to present a petition on behalf of residents of the west Cornwall and Isles of Scilly constituency of St Ives, including 1,752 who have signed forms online and in the street. I should declare an interest, though not a pecuniary one, as a volunteer member of two local housing charities: Cornwall Rural Housing Association and Cornwall Community Land Trust. The petitions were collected by the local Labour party. Among other things, the petition is in support of my Homes and Planning Bill, which will come to the House tomorrow for its Second Reading. Unfortunately, the Government will attempt to block it. The purpose of the petition is to support the supply of secure and affordable homes for locals and to control the loss of housing stock to second and holiday homes. The petitioners therefore request “that the House of Commons urges the Government to give local authorities powers to require planning permission for the conversion of homes into holiday lets, to limit the number of second homes and holiday lets in areas of housing need, and to reform the taxation of holiday lets so that they make an appropriate contribution to local services and housing provision.” Following is the full text of the petition: [The petition of residents of West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Declares that the continued conversion of residential properties into second homes and short-term holiday accommodation is reducing the availability of homes for local people experiencing acute housing shortages, and that local authorities do not currently have sufficient powers to address this problem. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to give local authorities powers to require planning permission for the conversion of homes into holiday lets, to limit the number of second homes and holiday lets in areas of housing need, and to reform the taxation of holiday lets so that they make an appropriate contribution to local services and housing provision. And the petitioners remain, etc.] [P003258]