Ceredigion councillors are calling for additional powers to limit the number of second homes in the county.

Aberystwyth county councillor Mark Strong put forward a notice of motion to fellow councillors before Christmas, calling for a planning clause requiring approval before turning a residential home into a holiday home.

He also called for a maximum threshold to be set on the amount of holiday lets in any one area and for the need to gain permission before changing a second home into a holiday or Airbnb business.

Cllr Strong has written a report, assisted by council officers, with evidence to present to the council before it makes a final decision on the motion, which he recommends goes to scrutiny committee first.

He said at Ceredigion County Council’s full council meeting on Thursday, 21 January: “The information provided by officers states that the number of second homes is high enough that we can ask to look at the impact.”

He added: “The data shows that Ceredigion had the fifth highest number of second homes in Wales, with a number of other local authorities having raised concerns about the detrimental impact these homes have on communities.”

New Quay ward has the highest level of second homes in the county, councillors heard, with 26 per cent of properties not being a primary residence.

Two other wards had 10 per cent of houses without full-time residents and there were 10other wards with five to 10 per cent levels, added Cllr Strong.

With changes due later to the way houses of multiply occupation are operated and allowed, Cllr Strong said the council should lobby the Welsh Government for similar policies to control the turning of primary homes into second homes through the planning system.

Council leader Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn, who had seconded the original motion, added her “100 per cent” support to Cllr Strong.

Following the meeting, Jeff Smith, spokesperson for Cymdeithas yr Iaith, who have been calling for action on second homes in Ceredigion, said: “Second homes are a huge problem in Ceredigion, and it’s good to see that the council intends taking steps.

“It’s also good to see that the political will exists stemming from council leadership, with leader Ellen ap Gwynn making it clear at the council’s latest meeting that there is a need to take action on this matter.

“The crisis is a national problem. We’re offering several potential policies which could be put in place to tackle the problem as part of the vision document for the election, More than a Million.

“The next government also needs to fix a cap on the percentage of second homes in communities, control rent prices so that they are affordable to people on local incomes, and apply a higher tax on landlords’ profit to invest in bringing empty houses and second homes back into the use of the community.”