Second homes are once again a source of political and social contention in rural areas. The British government's decision to reduce Council Tax discounts on second homes in England in April 2004 has caused wide debate in local communities, local authorities, and the media. The debate has not only focused on the vexed Council Tax issue, but on wider rural housing concerns. Questions have been raised as to whether second homes are a major cause of housing affordability problems in rural areas, and whether they lead to the displacement of local people in rural communities. In the face of anecdotal evidence being presented to answer these questions, Second Homes: European Perspectives and UK Policies, offers a more comprehensive analysis of the second homes question as it now exists. This up-to-date and authoritative analysis of second homes draws on the latest research and offers a critical insight into current housing problems in rural communities. Those interested in rural and housing studies will find the book valuable.

About the Author
Nick Gallent is Senior Lecturer at The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, UK. Alan Mace is now Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment, University of Westminster, UK. Mark Tewdwr-Jones is Professor of Spatial Planning and Governance at The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, UK.

Reviews
'This thought-provoking book catapults second homes into the mainstream of housing research. Recognizing that solutions to second home problems require policy measures extending beyond the housing and planning realms, the book avoids sentimentality, to challenge us to acknowledge the complexity of local housing markets, the varied roles of second homes within those markets, and the undesirability of failure to integrate social demand for second home ownership into progressive policies for the future.' Keith Hoggart, King's College London, UK '...[offers] a thorough examination of second homes as an integrated part of the rural housing market...a valuable contribution to the second-home literature.' European Journal of Housing Policy



Book Information
ISBN 9781138276482
Author Nick Gallent
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g