| Description: |
The success of online platforms such as ‘Airbnb’ and ‘Booking.com’, alongside the expansion of budget-friendly travel options have underpinned the rapid growth of short-term rental (STR) accommodation in recent years. This has generated concerns surrounding their local socio-economic impacts, including issues such as housing affordability and availability, social cohesion and the local economy. In turn, significant research has been undertaken on cities experiencing high STR densities, though there is less research on the socio-economic impact of STRs on rural regions of the UK. To address this gap, this research aims to analyse and assess the socio-economic impacts of STRs across a variety of areas on the Isle of Wight. Data collection will be conducted through a mixed methods approach. This includes detailed analysis of secondary online sources to analyse the relationship between housing affordability and STR density, along with two forms of qualitative data collection. This includes a survey, which is shared to community members, as well as evidence from interviews with local planning officers and members of the local planning committee. The findings are expected to reveal a direct correlation between STR density and the disruption of socio-economic equilibrium on the Isle of Wight. Subsequently, these will contribute to evidence based policy recommendations regarding STR implementation and regulation on the island, forming a transferable framework model applicable to alternative rural communities. These recommendations will seek to address ways the socio-economic risks associated can be mitigated, alongside promoting the benefits STRs can have in nurturing prosperous, resilient and cohesive places. |