Wells votes for curbs on second homes and holiday lets

More than 1,000 people - more than half of the 1,706 registered to vote - took part in a referendum over a new neighbourhood plan for Wells-next-the-Sea.

Some 819 (82.4pc) were in favour, 175 (17.6pc) were against and 41 unmarked or spoiled ballot papers were recorded.

A banner urges residents to have their say over second homes and holiday lets in Wells (Image: Chris Bishop)

The result means the neighbourhood plan's policies must now be considered by North Norfolk council when it considers planning applications in the town.

It states any new homes in Wells must in future be a "principal residence" occupied as "someone’s main or sole residence where the residents spend the majority of their time".

It adds: "Occupiers of homes with a principal residence condition will be required to keep proof that they are meeting the obligation."

The picturesque harbour at Wells, which has become a second homes honeypot (Image: Chris Bishop)

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The town has previously been dubbed the 'Prosecco Ghetto' for the number of well-heeled second home owners and tourists, and some 627 of its 1,560 properties registered for council tax are second homes or holiday lets.

In areas of the town off the Quay and Freeman Street, holiday homes make up 90pc of properties. 

Holiday lets and second homes are concentrated in streets leading down to the harbour in Wells (Image: Chris Bishop)

The plan said: "With homes being taken out of the market for local residents, house prices have risen steeply."

The Office for National Statistics said the median price for a house in Wells as of July 2021 was £530,000.

The average gross household income of Wells residents is £38,550 which will buy a house costing £180,000.

Nearby Burnham Market, where residents have also voted for curbs on second homes (Image: Chris Bishop)

The neighbourhood plan concludes: "The growth in the number of second and holiday homes, as well as people from out of the county buying permanent homes in Wells is putting pressure on local people and their grown-up children who want to live in the town."

Wells is the latest community to rebel against the second home boom.

Residents in other villages and towns have already agreed similar curbs, along an almost unbroken 30 miles of the Norfolk coast stretching from Heacham to Blakeney.

It includes Burnham Market - dubbed Chelsea-on-Sea because of the number of well-heeled Londoners with boltholes in the village.