8th December 2011

PORTLAND: Concern over shortage of homes and land

By Harry Walton

PORTLAND is short of suitable housing and lacks available land to meet it.

Islanders are so concerned that they have approached South Dorset MP Richard Drax for advice and help.

Mr Drax said: “I am working with Weymouth and Portland council to try and get people the housing they need.

“It is the smaller end of the market which is the problem but it is also a case that properties should not be too small.

“The density has to be such that there is room to breathe, where you don’t walk out of your front door and straight into your neighbour.

“Portland – and Weymouth as well – are very popular places and the number of people retiring to this region is continually increasing, putting increased pressure on local people to find a home.

“The restraint on Portland is that there is no more land, so we have to deal with what we have.

“I think this means that the housing associations with which we deal have to take a property and try and match it with relevant need.

“To be fair to the associations, they are doing this. The problem is a lack of homes.

“There are some very trying circumstances sometimes and housing associations are doing what they can to help. There is just no obvious solution apart from knocking some properties down and starting from scratch, reinvesting in rebuilding.”

Weymouth and Portland housing spokesman Councillor Amanda Legg, who represents Tophill West on the island, said housing was a problem in Weymouth as well as Portland.

She added: “We have had grants and Government funding for housing cut and this is affecting our ability to build homes.

“Developers are not coming forward with housing schemes and there is also the issue of land space.

“The Government is due to release a new housing policy soon and that will prompt us to review our own strategy as to what we can and can’t do as an authority.

“Our hands are very tied and we have to do the best with what little we do get.”

PORTLAND: Concern over shortage of homes and land

Comments

Add new comment