A HIGH Court ruling that has banned new houses being sold as holiday homes in a seaside town could come to west Dorset, if the issue is raised.

The High Court ruled last week (10) that St Ives in Cornwall can keep a ban on new houses being sold as second homes.

In May, more than 80 per cent of residents in St Ives voted to reserve new homes for full-time residents.

An architectural firm challenged the right for the vote to go ahead.

The challenge has been rejected in the High Court meaning that new homes still have to be made available for full-time residents.

As reported in the News, people in west Dorset are being priced out of the housing market, with second homes one of the issues.

One in 20 homes in west Dorset are second homes. However certain areas face a bigger problem with one in five homes in Lyme Regis second homes.

Figures obtained from West Dorset District Council through a Freedom of Information request show that there are currently 499 second homes in Lyme Regis, while Bridport has 259 second homes and there are 71 in Beaminster.

In Charmouth, there are 148 second homes, 98 in Burton Bradstock, while there are 149 second homes in Dorchester.

Calls have been made in Lyme Regis for more affordable homes and social housing.

Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Owen Lovell believes any legislation introduced at this point would be "too late"for the town.

He said: "The problem I have is that most of Lyme Regis is developed.

"There is not a lot left. It is a bit too late for Lyme Regis and policing it would be a nightmare."

West Dorset District Council said that why they aren't actively looking to put a ban in place if an issue was identified it could be done.

Cllr Ian Gardner, planning portfolio holder for West Dorset District Council, said: “The council isn’t actively looking at putting any restrictions in place regarding second homes as a need would have to be identified through evidence that there was a particular issue across our areas.

“Any issue would most likely be localised and would therefore be identified by a local community and addressed via the neighbourhood plan."

With consultations on local plans starting, it could become part of that review.

Mark Parker, from Parker's estate agents said that he didn't personally think the ban was a bad idea.