LYME REGIS: The group attempting to bring affordable housing to the town have reassured residents that locals will be given priority in finding a new home.

Concerns have been raised that the proposals by Lyme Regis Community Land Trust (CLT) to build a mixture of two and three bedroom houses and one-bedroom flats would not go to those local to Lyme Regis.

Cllr Cheryl Reynolds, chairman of the Lyme Regis Estates Residents' Association, said: “I think the CLT have done a wonderful job in finding the land - but someone really needs to use common sense here and understand that Lyme Regis is different and that affordable housing is a real problem for a lot of young people.

“I am extremely concerned that so many people are not deemed by West Dorset District Council to be in adverse housing and therefore cannot be put on the housing register - which is how these homes are likely to be filled.

“Housing in Lyme Regis is astronomically priced for most people and these 15 new homes must be given to locals.

“The Trust have said they may be able to offer a second list for the homes, but we need to know who would decide who is on that list.”

But the chairman of the Lyme Regis CLT has confirmed that permission for the scheme would be conditional on the homes being prioritised for people in housing need with a connection to the town. 

Denis Yell said: “Planning permission on such an exceptional site is conditional on the homes being prioritised for people in housing need who also have a local connection. Local connection will be defined in terms of how long people have lived in the town, worked in the town, or how long their close relatives have lived in the town.

“This requirement for people with such connections to have priority for the homes will be governed by a legally binding Section 106 Agreement and an Allocations Plan. 

“As the future freeholder of the scheme, the CLT will be closely involved in drafting these documents and will do so in coordination with the community, building on the links already established at the public meetings we have arranged to explain these points are reassure potential tenants over the past two years.

“There are many such agreements already operating successfully with CLT involvement both locally and around the country - it is not a new idea.”

A drop-in session will be held held on Monday at Woodmead Hall where members of the CLT and Yarlington Housing Group will answer any questions from concerned residents.

All properties in the new development would be for rent. If planners give the outline application the green light, a detailed scheme will need to be submitted and approved in order for the plans to go ahead.

“This final design will refine the initial proposals for the homes to be of two-story construction, with their finishes and the site layout to be sympathetic to the area and to the location of the site” added Mr Yell.

Members of the public have until Saturday Febuary 7 to have their say on the outline proposals at dorsetforyou.co.uk