Beadnell's Two-Neighborhood Divide

0:00On April 5, in the seaside village of Vietnam in Northumberland, a ban on new holiday homes eight years ago has carved the place into two distinct neighborhoods. The fresh development called the Kins is all full-time residents only, while right next door on Bernicia Way, it's packed with older second homes and holiday rentals. Back in the 2021 census, about 61% of the roughly 750 homes there were second properties or lets. That policy kicked in to fight the flood of vacation paths eating up the community. Any new build on those sites must serve as a permanent home forever, even if it's torn down and rebuilt. Older spots like Bernicia Way from 1999 dodged the rule, so they stayed holiday focused. Locals are feeling the shift first hand. Longtime resident Jennifer Hall, whose family goes back centuries, loves seeing lights on year-round instead of empty streets and winter. Newcomers like Chris and Olivia moved in eight months back for the vibe, noting more pubs,

1:00cafes, and life offseason, though summers still swarm with. Tourists, but it's not all smooth. Businesses like the village shops say second home owners keep them afloat year-round and sky-high prices push young workers out. They clean the holiday. Spots but can't afford to live nearby. Places like St. Ives and Norfolk villages have copied the model. Now with Council's doubling council tax on second homes, jumping from 2,500 pounds to 5,000 debate heats up. Retired local Christopher Brown calls the build rules fair for growing the community, but worries the tax hike pulls cash away from pubs and eateries. The e-dails proving these fixes can spark real change, even if the balance stays tricky.