Wells-next-the-sea, a town in North Norfolk situated in an area of exceptional natural beauty, is experiencing a developing housing shortage. With the average housing price in the area exceeding the average earnings, many lifelong residents are finding it impossible to remain in their hometown.
Polly Robins, a 50-year-old Wells-next-the-sea resident, states that she will never be able to purchase her own home. Ms. Robins is now renting a one-bedroom apartment near the town centre while working 50 hours a week. She is unable to save enough money to purchase a home.
The situation is exacerbated by the large number of vacant or seldom-occupied dwellings. Nearly 6,000 of North Norfolk’s 55,000 homes are either second homes or vacant for an extended period. This has produced a severe housing shortage for those raised in Wells and the greater North Norfolk region.
Lynne Burdon relocated to Wells from London in 2020 and now leads Homes for Wells, a charitable community benefit society founded by concerned locals in response to the city’s housing issue. The organisation rents out 31 properties to essential personnel in Wells and has 46 individuals and families on its waiting list, of which six are currently considered homeless.
Previous council homes are being purchased as second homes, driving up prices and forcing former residents to leave the neighbourhood. Tracy Raby, a resident of Heacham who purchased her bungalow for £157,000 in 2014, stated, “It is like a perfect storm; there is a dearth of social housing, a lack of affordable property, rising costs, and not enough well-paying jobs.” People are moving into the neighbourhood, so there is demand, but they are second-homebuyers or investors.”
Chris Bailey, national campaign manager for Action on Empty Properties, asserts that the true situation in North Norfolk is likely worse than depicted, as the data do not account for short-term vacant homes or other council tax exemption categories. To offset the negative impact that second homes have had on local communities, he proposes increasing taxes on second homes and regulating vacation and short-term rentals more strictly.
A government spokesperson stated, “We are already taking action to combat the negative impact second homes can have on local communities, especially in tourist areas, by closing tax loopholes, introducing higher stamp duty rates, and empowering councils to apply a tax premium of up to 100 percent on second homes.”
Residents in Wells-next-the-sea and throughout North Norfolk are experiencing the effects of a housing crisis caused by soaring home prices and the purchase of second homes. With people unable to acquire cheap housing and authorities unable to repurpose vacant houses, the situation will continue to deteriorate unless immediate action is taken.
