Dorset councils ‘not delivering’ on cheap housing

7:00pm Thursday 18th March 2010

By Fiona Pendlebury

BOURNEMOUTH council and East Dorset District Council have been described by charity Shelter as “among the worst in the country” for providing affordable housing.

Shelter’s Housing League Table launched yesterday revealed that North Dorset District Council and Borough of Poole are delivering less than half the number of homes identified as being needed.

East Dorset delivers just five per cent of the affordable homes needed, with 2,365 households on its waiting list.

It ranks 300 out of 323 English local authorities for affordable housing delivery.

Bournemouth council fared slightly better, delivering six per cent of affordable homes needed, with 6,925 households on its waiting list and ranked 295 out of 323.

It showed that Christchurch council is delivering 21 per cent of affordable homes needed and is ranked 140 out of 323.

Purbeck District Council is delivering 15 per cent of its affordable housing need and ranks 197 out of 323.

The league table is a new one-stop shop website that provides local housing data and ranks councils according to their current levels of affordable housing delivery against their analysis of housing need. Shelter’s chief executive Campbell Robb called for councils to do more but added that they must be supported by “significant government cash”.

A spokesperson for Christchurch Borough Council said that most housing sites in the borough are small and below the threshold requiring provision of affordable housing.

It is also examining the potential of allowing affordable housing schemes in rural areas.

Cllr John Beesley, deputy leader of Bournemouth Borough Council, said: “We are extremely well aware that currently the need for affordable housing in Bournemouth far outweighs what we can provide.

“The council has recently agreed a new affordable housing policy which will mean that any new development will seek to include up to 40 per cent affordable homes.”

Cllr Spencer Flower, leader of East Dorset District Council, said they did not have the funds to build housing but had been involved in enabling it to be built by helping to obtain funding.

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, portfolio holder for affordable housing at North Dorset District Council, said that Dorset has “environmental constraints” such as its Jurassic coast and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

“Many councils in Dorset have the greatest demand because of high house prices, low wages and in-migration but least opportunity to meet that demand,” he said.