BRIDPORT is facing "its very own housing bubble" after it was revealed hundreds of homes are empty across west Dorset - while more than one thousand people are waiting for a house.

A Freedom of Information request by The News found that 777 homes in west Dorset are vacant, along with 2,563 properties used as second homes. Currently, 1,331 people have applied to the west Dorset housing register - while 283 families from Bridport are in need of housing, according to the neighbourhood plan housing needs assessment.

Statistics show that there are 77 empty homes in Bridport, as well as 259 properties used as second homes. In neighbouring Symondsbury, where proposals for the controversial Vearse Farm development are planned, there are an additional 54 second homes and seven empty homes. In Bradpole there are another 18 unoccupied homes and 26 second homes.

The Vearse Farm development could see up to 760 new homes built, with Bridport Town Council currently pushing developers to ensure 35 per cent of the homes are available as affordable housing if approved by planners.

Cllr Ros Kayes, who represents Bridport at town, district and county level, described the empty homes statistics as "shocking".

She added: "It is scandalous when local people can't afford accommodation, sometimes even rented accommodation is too expensive, and 77 houses here are empty.

"The result is Bridport's very own housing bubble."

The statistics from West Dorset District Council revealed that Lyme Regis has the highest number of second homes in the district, 499, along with 44 empty homes.

In Beaminster, there are 71 second homes and 36 vacant properties, while the small parish of Whitchurch Canonicorum has 47 second homes and 10 empty homes.

Cllr Owen Lovell, mayor of Lyme Regis, described the housing situation in the town as a "vicious circle".

He said: "I am not surprised at the number of second homes - no wonder our youngsters struggle for a housing start.

"There is an empty home near me which has been unoccupied for about 25 years it is frustrating that nothing has happened to it for all that time.

"Lyme Regis has a very high and therefore disproportionate number of second homes. We have little chance of solving our housing problems in Lyme Regis as we do not have the land to build rented accommodation, and in any case, new builds are so costly that it is mainly only attractive to second home owners creating a vicious circle."

Cllr Tim Yarker, West Dorset District Council’s executive portfolio holder for housing, said there is "no magic wand" to solve the problem.

He said “We work hard to identify those which have been empty for some time, and have a dedicated empty homes officer, who helps owners of these properties to get them back in use.

“The council is very aware of the housing pressures faced in west Dorset and is working hard to ensure that the local plan delivers the right mixture of houses in the right place, but there is no magic wand."