A NEW project launched to try and ensure local people are guaranteed local housing has received a boost after the first new home was occupied.

West Dorset District Council developed the project to try and ensure that any new properties built in villages across the district would be allocated to people who were from the area and looking for a new home, or to people who have a local connection. 

Now, Sophie Wales, her partner and her dog Poppy, from Chideock, is the first resident to move into a new home as part of the scheme, and it is just metres away from where she spent her childhood years. 

Her new home is built on land owned by West Dorset District Council. 
Sophie’s immediate family all live in the West Dorset village and she has nothing but praise for the project the local connection.

She said: “My parents and my nan live about 400 yards away so we can walk across the field every day to see them and my brother lives in the village too.

“I moved here with my parents when I was 11, but had to move away to other towns around Dorset as I got older and it has taken me a long time to finally get back.

“I’m not moving ever again.”

Sophie is pleased she is surrounded by people she grew up within a village she has a special connection to.

“The local connection is fantastic,” she said.

“I went to school with my next door neighbour and I know everyone else from when I grew up.

“Because we’ve known each other for years already there’s no trouble. 

“It’s the best community, really nice and friendly.”

Lyn Crisp, from the Ridwood Community Liaison Group, is pleased local people have been given first refusal on the new homes, and that Sophie has been given the opportunity to return to Chideock.

She said: “This has been a real success story for Chideock with all the homes let to local families, many of whom grew up together.

“We felt very strongly that the local people should have the chance to stay here and bring their own families up here.”

The houses, which have been let by housing provider Magna Housing, are built on land that was formerly a field.

Sophie is ‘loving’ her new home and has now settled in. She said: “We really love where we live.

“We love the garden, we have loads of room and we have good neighbours. 

“Everyone says hello to each other and looks out for each other and there’s never any trouble.”