Issues surrounding social housing will be explored in-depth when a hard-hitting documentary is screened in Bridport.

Dispossession, a new film tacking the government’s handling of social housing, will screen at Bridport Arts Centre on Sunday, October 22.

The film’s director, Paul Sn, said: “For some people, a housing crisis means not getting planning permission for a loft conversion. “For others it means, quite simply, losing their home." 

Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle explores the catastrophic failures that have led to a chronic shortage of social housing in Britain.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

DEBATE: Director Paul Sng

Following the film, which is attracting national attention, a discussion panel including Labour’s Anna Killick, West Dorset District Council’s portfolio holder for housing Tim Yarker, Liberal Democrats’ Cllr Ros Kayes and Phyllida Culpin of Magna Housing will take place, covering housing issues in Bridport and the surrounding area.

Cllr Kayes said: “I would urge people to come to the event, it looks like an excellent film and I think the discussion afterwards will be illuminating.

“I hope it will galvanise people to take action and put pressure on the district council to finance more housing now that it is allowed to do so.

“There is a massive need for housing – affordable housing – in Bridport. It’s impossible for young families to live in Bridport and we’ve hardly had any houses built in the last few years.

“It’s an impossible situation and a real crisis. I think it’s great this film has been made.”

Interview with director Paul Sng

Speaking of his inspiration for the documentary, Paul said: "I spent a lot of my early childhood on the Aylesbury Estate in south-east London, where my aunt, uncle and cousins lived.

"When I learned that the Southwark council had plans to demolish the estate against the wishes of residents, I wanted to do something to help raise awareness about this.

"From there, the idea for a documentary about the causes and effects of the social housing crisis was born. The main aim of the film was to give people who are fighting to save their homes a voice and tell their stories in their own words. It was also designed to be a counter narrative to the poverty porn shows like Benefits Street, which have stigmatised council housing and the people who live in it."


In some cases, Paul was surprised by what he discovered. 
He said: "Going to Glasgow to meet people in Govanhill and see the living conditions there was shocking. There are buildings there that resemble Victorian-era slums, which is due to the high number of rogue landlords operating in the area.

"I was also surprised at the level of local authority mismanagement and neglect of some of the estates we filmed in London. Years of managed decline have created a convenient reason for councils to demolish places such as Cressingham Gardens in Tulse Hill. The residents there are losing their homes and their community for the sake of an extra 27 properties. It's madness."


Paul chose Bridport as a location to screen the documentary through friend and former Bridport resident Gabby Hitchin.


Paul said: "It was the idea of a former Bridport resident, Gabby Hitchin, who's an old friend of mine. Gabby thought the film would go down well in Bridport, given how well-engaged the community is with social issues. We've been doing Q&A screenings across the country, as it's a good way for local people to have a place to discuss how the issues raised in the film relate to their area and community."


Speaking about how the issues covered in the film tie in with issues faced by Bridport, Paul said: "The shortage of social housing and the lack of truly affordable and secure accommodation affects everyone. Unfortunately, homes are now seen as assets first and foremost, and the faith that successive governments have placed in free market economics to solve our housing needs hasn't worked. Whether you live in Bridport or Barking, the shortage of affordable housing is a massive problem."