Observations:
As local young residents become aware of EYV and the adjunct Self Build Project through the publicity and awareness work that we're doing, we are receiving more and more enquiries about 'how to become a self builder'. The initial enthusiasm of most enquirers subsides when they become aware of the hurdles which stand between them and the reality of building, but of those who return to the enquiry, there is a real sense of commitment. The reality of building within a National Park - even one which would like to facilitate self build - and the increased paperwork that National Park status brings (wildlife studies, conservation areas, and environmental protection issues) has, in a few cases, resulted in our applicants abandoning the Park and taking their self build ambitions elsewhere. The biggest issue remains 'building land': We still have only four plots which offer a realistic prospect of eventually seeing self-build development. For some (families with children who are settled into schools or nurseries, perhaps, or those with family members living near their current home, the plots we offer are in an inconvenient location - without uprooting and starting again. After all, the Park contains an area of 270 square miles - and our plots (with one exception) lie along the ten miles of road between Exford and Luxborough. Other applicants object to the 'smallness' of the plots citing the difficulty of growing vegetables and space for children to play, for example - a vision shared by many for their new family home. One couple - childless at the moment but planning a family in the future, wonders how they would manage in 93m2 of habitable space in the long term, and no possibility of extending what they built 'at first'. Applicants feel that if they're going to go to all the effort of building themselves a home, they're not going to do it on a plot which is nearly, but isn't quite what they're after - particularly as they expect to have a lifelong commitment to the house they build. Consequently, many of those families who have viewed our plots decide that they will 'hang on' in the hope of finding a building plot on the moor which offers them room for a home and outdoor life at that home - not an uncommon ambition, I suppose, among people who love the environment. As for the rest, several applicants do not yet qualify for 'local connection' status. Their applications will take time - perhaps years - as they establish 'tie' criteria through continued employment or just serving their residential time. This will be a longer-term project than I envisaged - but there are many more applicants than I imagined we would have, and they, at least, are on the slow-moving conveyor belt. Justin Tyers, Exmoor Young Voices Self Build Project Leader Key figures / info:
Megan Hunt, Exmoor Young Voices Coordinator Contact: exmooryoungvoices@hotmail.com
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Thank you to the West Somerset Free Press for sharing the stories of our Summit Speakers & the challenges they face in living & working on the moor. An online version of the feature is available here, which features the case study of EYV member and local business owner, Sam Camp.
An Exmoor Young Voices discussion paper
In a 21st-century wealthy democracy, housing is a fundamental expectation, alongside clean water and food. For EYV members living and working in a national park, obtaining housing away from the parental home involves negotiation with most or all of the authorities listed below. Depending on whether they seek affordable rented or self-build housing, they will have to find the time, money, persistence and courage, during working hours, to approach: ● The local council ● Up to 5 housing associations ● Somerset Homefinder or Devon Homechoice And will then have to find help to complete forms, time to travel, gather evidence, and collect and deliver documents. Self-builders will probably have to deal with: ● Planners ● Water companies ● Electricity companies ● Parish council ● Highways ● Ecology group(s) re protected species surveys ● Development Control Group ● Neighbours and landowners (where there is a local tie) ● Multiple sources of loans and grants ● Mortgage companies who will refuse them ● Architect for drawings and plans ● Land Registry The above entails several meetings, numerous emails and phone calls, and multiple documents and references delivered and collected, with additional and unexpected costs. Recently, EYV supported a disabled member to find rented accommodation that met her particular needs. She succeeded. But only after 119 emails, the involvement of 7 professional advisers, obtaining 3 professional references and 12 other document exchanges. EYV members and their charity are probably wasting their own and everyone’s time struggling and juggling so many different demands. Housing needs to be a one-stop-shop, one overriding, well-staffed and resourced department of the new Somerset Council. How might it be funded? It's claimed that centralising will save money, and the savings are already promised for 'communities,' so there lies a fund that could be used. This is likely to be seen as a popular move for the new council in its first year. The opportunity is there for this new department, with all partners, to design a simple system that is both centralised and more localised by using its central powers to coordinate all aspects of housing. Members of the relevant Local Community Networks and parish councils could confirm the local connection and need. 'Need' must consider the future need for family growth and work needs. The new 'Somerset Housing' could also campaign with other counties for larger houses and gardens in rural areas to account for modern life's demands. It is a folly to build smaller, meaner homes when people, and the equipment they need, are both increasing. Land-wise, we are encouraged to grow some of our own food and help our children play outdoors. The current system is fragmented - expensive, ineffective and unwieldy to the point of actively discriminating against all but the brightest and most persistent young people. Our next paper will ask how we ensure equal access for less able young people. In light of our duty to house people, it is inefficient to put such a huge administrative burden onto applicants. Instead, we need to simplify, de-clutter and create a one-stop-shop arrangement that enables our young adults to find the homes they need. Prioritising young people in this way carries out the intentions of Equalities legislation, as it addresses the needs of a group that is seriously missing out. Our small national park has the oldest population demographic in England. There are not enough children to ensure a future for our schools. A school-free national park loses teachers, vets, doctors, dentists, and solicitors and cannot attract new and larger businesses. Recruitment and retention are already serious problems. Who will provide essential services in shops, care, building, and deliveries, including Royal Mail? The park is on the cusp of becoming a geriatric desert, over-weighted with second and holiday homes. It already has an unnatural, unbalanced population. Now, the opportunity is there to plan for a transformative service to be proud of and demonstrate a way forward that might suit the rest of the country. Please feel free to share your thoughts on this discussion paper in the comment section or drop us an email: exmooryoungvoices@hotmail.com |
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March 2024
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