A “breakthrough” planning restriction developed by a Cumbrian housing trust could enable homeowners in the Lake District and beyond to ensure their home remains occupied by people living locally forever.

Lakeland Housing Trust has spent the last two years working with solicitors, a barrister and Lake District National Park Authority planners to develop a restriction which people can choose to register with the Land Registry against the title of their property.

The restriction, technically known as a Section 106 Unilateral Undertaking, will be registered in the Land Charges register against the property, meaning their home can only ever be used as a principal residence or as a rental property with a 12-month minimum term and not as a second home, holiday let or Airbnb.

It will be up to the Lake District National Park planning authority to ensure this remains the case for properties where the restriction has been applied.

Founded in 1937, Lakeland Housing Trust owns over 50 properties across the South Lakes, with the aim of providing affordable rental homes for people living and working in the local community.

(Image: Chris Batten)
It has also built some homes in recent times, including in Grasmere and Sawrey.

Although the Section 106 restriction will not benefit the trust directly, Malcolm Tillyer, who stood down as chair in June, says it fulfils its purpose of providing a wider pool of affordable housing in the national park.

“I've met quite a lot of people who I know have left properties to us in their wills and for the majority of those people it is pretty much the same story,” said Malcolm.

"They love the local area and they can't bear the thought of their house being a second home.”

So far one Section 106 has been applied to one of Lakeland Housing Trust’s properties but it could be applied to many more in the area, as well as those outside the region in England and Wales.

Chris Batten, who is replacing Malcolm as chair of the trust, says it is a real “breakthrough” in the much-discussed problem of creating affordable homes for local people in the Lake District.

"For people who've been involved in village life and believe that's important, it's a great way to ensure that your house will go to a young couple," he said.