Revealed: Seaside village which banned new vacation properties is now break up with two estates

A seaside village which banned new holiday homes has now been split into two estates – one packed with year-round residents and another dominated by old second houses.

Locals living in Beadnell, Northumberland, say the divide shows how a crackdown on second homes has helped breathe new life back into parts of their community.

The newer development, The Kilns, is reserved for full-time residents, while neighbouring Bernicia Way is made up of second homes and holiday lets.

Beadnell introduced a rule eight years ago that required all homes built on new sites to be used as permanent residences, preventing second homes and holiday lets.

The move came as the scale of the problem became stark; according to the 2021 census, around 61 per cent of the roughly 750 homes in the village were second homes or holiday lets.

Now, locals say the restriction has helped bring more year-round residents into the village and strengthened the community.

Jennifer Hall, 75, whose family has lived in the village for centuries, said there is a strict rule on The Kilns.

She said: ‘There is a residency condition on the land where each house was built that means that they need to be used as permanent residences in perpetuity.

‘Even if a house is demolished, if a new house is built on that land, it would have to be used as a permanent residency.’

But she said the contrast with older estates is clear.

She added: ‘Directly behind The Kilns is a development known as Bernicia Way and that was built in 1999 before the neighbourhood plan was made in 2018.

‘It is second homes or holiday lets, there aren’t any permanent residences.’

Chris, 34, moved to Beadnell with his 30-year-old partner, Olivia Coyle, eight months ago after spending his childhood holidays there.

He said: ‘There’s certainly more in terms of entertainment, pubs, cafes and that sort of thing compared to how it used to be.’

Olivia added: ‘One of the main reasons we wanted to buy here was because we didn’t want to be living next door to empty homes.’

Chris said the village still quietens down outside peak tourist months, but no longer feels deserted.

The Northumberland village was among the first communities to act against the explosion of second homes.

It followed the example of places such as St Ives in Cornwall, where residents voted in 2016 to ensure new houses could only be used as a principal residence.

Norfolk coastal communities, including Burnham Market, have also adopted similar restrictions.

But the coastal beauty spot is still heavily dominated by holiday properties.

Mrs Hall said: ‘In the summer, the place is packed out – you can’t get into a bar or book a table in a restaurant. Every place is crowded.’

But she explained that it is still quieter in the winter, adding: ‘There are no lights in any of the windows.

‘If you’re the only elderly person living on a particularly street, it can be lonely.’

Mrs Hall, whose ancestors arrived in the village in the 1600s, said tourism has long been part of Beadnell’s history.

Her great-grandmother even built the village’s first hotel after marrying into a local fishing family.

She said: ‘It was not until the early 2000s that we started having these commercial lets. They were built as investments. They’re also little tourist factories, if you like.’

Mrs Hall said soaring property prices have made it increasingly difficult for young locals to stay in the area.

She said: ‘Young people, perhaps working in the tourist industry and not particularly well paid, can’t afford to buy the types of houses that they’re cleaning.

‘They can’t get private lets either, because the owners evict tenants and turn them into holiday lets.’

Others say second-home owners still play a vital role in the village economy.

Val Graham, 62, who runs Beadnell’s village shop, warned that businesses rely heavily on visiting homeowners.

She said: ‘Without second homes and holiday lets, small businesses in Beadnell wouldn’t survive.

‘Most of these second home owners and families support the small local businesses throughout the year, not just during holiday season.’

The debate has intensified since councils were given powers last year to double council tax on second homes.

Christopher Brown, a retired solicitor who bought a holiday flat in Beadnell in 2000 before moving there permanently, says the restrictions on new homes are understandable.

He said: ‘I think it’s a fair-minded thing, because it can then begin to build and strengthen the actual community and increase the size of it.’

But he questioned whether the council tax crackdown was the right approach, as less could be spent in local pubs and restaurants.

Mr Brown: ‘The double council tax is a bit of a blunt tool to extract money from people.

‘You’re going from paying £2,500 up to £5,000. That is £2,500 that could be spent in local restaurants and other businesses.’