Planners admit Dales homes crisis

House prices in the sought-after Dales have squeezed out locals

Planners in the Yorkshire Dales have admitted they cannot meet growing demand for affordable housing.

A new housing needs study by Craven council shows that 75 more low-cost homes a year are needed to meet the needs of people living in the district.

The National Park Authority says it now has an accurate picture of where the main areas of need are in the Dales.

But strategic planning officer Peter Stockton admits "there is no way we can realistically meet that level of need".

Sound basis

He said of the survey: "It gives us a good, sound basis for tackling the lack of affordable housing by working with our partners - district and parish councils and housing associations.

"The findings of this survey tell us that there is a shortfall of 75 affordable houses a year within the Craven Dales - including Settle, Ingleton, Gargrave and Embsay.

"There is no way that the National Park Authority or Craven District Council can realistically meet that level of need for financial and site availability reasons.

"But it should make the arguments for releasing future sites within or on the edge of towns or villages a little easier."

Earlier this year members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's planning committee agreed a restrictive occupancy policy as a way of tackling the problem of high house prices that is preventing local people from staying in the area.

Virtually all new homes can now only be built in the Dales if they meet local housing needs and are sold at below-market prices to local people.

They cannot be bought as second homes or as holiday lets.