High house prices 'creating brain drain' across Dorset

By Chris Robinson
BBC News

Sophie lives at home with her mother and step-father

Sophie Heckford is 17 and a year too young to vote at the general election.

But, whichever party wins on 6 May, her future will be affected by their policies.

Young people living and working in Mid Dorset and North Poole are facing ongoing problems getting on to the housing ladder.

Outside the South East, the constituency is one of the most expensive places to live in the UK with a relatively low wage offered to workers living there.

There are also local campaigns to stop a flurry of second homes being purchased by people from outside the area attracted to picture-postcard images of the rural and coastal scenes.

Sophie, who lives with her family, is completing an apprenticeship at beauty salon Tranquil Moments, in Canford Heath.

She fears more and more younger people may have to move from their families to be able to climb the first rung of the property ladder.

"There are more people in their 20s living at home," she said.

'Strong communities'

"I wouldn't be able to buy and I think younger people need more help. Most young people are in the same boat, you may as well stay with your mum.

"One thing I would look at is half-buy half-rent schemes, some people I know are."

The estimated average house price for Dorset in 2008 was £262,332, which is 15 times what most residents earn, at about £18,000.

The National Housing Federation said the county was the least affordable place to live in the south west of England.

The Liberal Democrats want to scrap regional house-building targets and allow local authorities to determine how many and what type of homes are needed in each area.

Candidate Annette Brooke, who has held the seat since 2001, said younger people were having to leave the area in order to get on to the property ladder.

Wimborne Minster was gained due to boundary changes

"That means they lose the support of their extended family, which I think is important," she said.

"House prices here are really quite expensive in terms of wages. It's a big issue, it has to be taken alongside that local young people are having difficulty finding houses."

Labour candidate Darren Brown suggested a lack of affordable homes was creating a "brain drain" in parts of Mid Dorset and North Poole.

Labour wants to establish local authority housing companies which would give councils a greater role in building new affordable housing.

"If you don't have the houses then there's a brain drain from this area and younger people are going to have to leave," he added.

"I think local authorities are going to have to take some responsibility and stop building projects that don't build social housing."

Discounted homes should be offered back to councils and housing associations first UKIP candidate Dave Evans

Conservative candidate Nick King said the party was looking at introducing local housing trusts where the community helps to decide where homes should be developed.

"They [young people] want to stay in the community where they have been brought up and close to where they work," he said.

"There will be a lot more power to local councils to make the decision where they want to build and also for whom, with restrictions so they could only be sold to people within the area."

UKIP candidate Dave Evans said he wanted to ensure that local people were offered homes first, but questioned why so many new developments were being built.

"If they are not for local people then we do not need so many," he said.

"Discounted homes should be offered back to councils and housing associations first."

Boundary changes have brought the wards of Wimborne Minster and Colehill East, and Colehill West, within the constituency.

The candidates standing for election so far in Mid Dorset and North Poole are: Liberal Democrats: Annette Brooke; Conservative: Nick King; Labour: Darren Brown; UK Independence Party: Dave Evans.