A FIVE-fold increase in council tax on second homes could be introduced in the Yorkshire Dales National Park - and the Lake District could follow suit.

The YDNPA has proposed an increase of “at least five times” the current council tax rate in a report to be debated at a meeting of the authority next week.

And officials for the LDNPA have also confirmed that they 'will not rule out' a similar increase in the future.

The radical move comes as a response to fears that rural communities in the Dales are struggling to survive with many homes in villages not occupied by permanent residents - a concern also voiced in the Lake District.

A report to be discussed at Tuesday's YDNPA says: "There can be no doubt that the long term viability of communities in the National Park has been adversely affected by the level of second home ownership.

"The scale of the impact can be gleaned from the 2011 census. While an average of 65 new homes were created each year between 2001-2011, approximately 90 houses were being turned into second homes or holiday lets each year.

"A certain number of holiday lets is economically beneficial to the area. They are run as businesses, generate supply chains and are usually owned and serviced by local people.

"Second homes are usually much less so. They deny a home to a permanent resident and push up prices. They also generate a substantial economic loss to the area because for much of the year there is no one in them spending money.

"The overall effect has been dramatic: pushing up house prices beyond the reach of local people, especially younger people.

"Second homes also reduce the money circulating within the local economy and the demand for local services such as primary schools to a level where local authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to justify on-going provision.

"The overall impact of this is a change in demographic to more elderly retired, the ‘flight of the young’ and a downward spiral in local services."

The Gazette contacted the LDNPA to find out if second home owners with properties in the national park are likely to face a similar increase.

"Currently there is no legislation controlling second home ownership in the Lake District, or elsewhere," said Liam McAleese, Head of Strategy and Partnerships at the LDNPA. "Although the Lake District National Park Partnership is not actively exploring council tax changes for second home owners, the idea has not been ruled out.

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"To help address the balance between different types of housing in the Lake District, our planning policy is to only permit new homes where they contribute towards meeting a local need or affordable need, and are permanently occupied."