A local authority in West Sussex is proposing to build its own Airbnb four bedroom house on the site of old garages, in order to drive tourism.
The idea has provoked a row with local residents close to the garages complaining that the property may become a so-called party house, and the pressure group Taxpayers Alliance protesting in recent days that the idea is a misconceived use of public money.
A spokesperson for Arun District Council says: “After conducting a survey on the use of the garages, we can confirm that only three out of the nine units are used for parking vehicles. The rest is used for storage or stands empty. For a number of years we have not received inquiries from the public regarding the availability of garages at this location. The Airbnb site proposal is based on a business need to make the most of the site to bring visitors to the city and create a revenue stream for the council and district. Once the development is complete, it will also add to the Council’s assets for a future-proof financial return.”
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Do councillors all attend the school for the stupid? If the garages need demolishing and they have money to build, why are they not building 2 and 3 bedroom houses for those on the housing list? If I was paying council tax to that council I would be furious!
Educations not for everyone!
Well there’s hypocrisy at its best. Tax/Restrict/Legislate and discourage Air BnB then start your own!
What could possibly go wrong!
If the council is involved, everything.
The council spokesman is being disingenuous; the reasons most of the garages are empty are because the council have been evicting tenants, failing to repair the garages and failing to advertise them.
Their economic case for the BnB has been ridiculed by local residents; the council are hoping to get £503 a night for 60% of the year when the average BnB in Arundel achieves 30% occupancy. They have also hugely underestimated build costs. Inspite of their projections being blown out of the water the council seem determined to carry on regardless!! Arundel desperately needs more parking and the site is perfect for this. The town is already suffering from a massive oversupply of BnBs most of which are empty for much of the year. Another BnB is utterly pointless and a complete waster of taxpayers money!!
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