Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is in 'housing crisis'

The group presented a motion to BCP Council calling for several changes to the housing situation in the conurbation. 

BCP Council’s local housing needs assessment says 2,670 new affordable homes need to be built per year. 

And the authority is planning to build 2,000 homes by 2031, with half expected to be delivered within five years. 

Labour councillors in BCP (Image: Richard Crease)

Peter Cooper, Labour councillor for Hamworthy, said: “This emergency in the UK is a pressing issue that requires bold and decisive action.  

“By addressing the root cause and implementing practical solutions which we can do, we can ensure that everyone has access to safe, secure and affordable housing.” 

Labour leader in BCP Patrick Canavan added: “We have a Labour government, there is no shortage of political will, we have our manifesto of which the Labour government was elected... 

“I will continue to press the council for progress, because there is no excuse now. You have to do this and push forward with the agenda.” 

Peter Cooper (centre) (Image: Richard Crease)

But Redhill independent councillor Stephen Bartlett said the council should be building affordable homes on its own land, accusing it of not being able to “because it’s not ‘viable’”  

“How crazy is that?” he said. “I believe the root of so many problems lies in the inability to get affordable housing and I want us to do something about it.” 

Cllr Bartlett did not agree with Labour’s motion, though, because it needs “drastic action” rather than “reviewing actions again”. 

Part of Labour’s motion is to have higher house building targets in BCP’s emerging local plan, but opposition leader Phil Broadhead said “we need to be careful about what we wish for”. 

He warned of "huge” central government-imposed figures that could “scrap” greenbelt land. 

Kieron Wilson, cabinet member for housing, said he is willing to explore any option or solution to that would address the housing crisis in BCP. 

“Everyone deserves a safe place they can call home,” he said. “The housing emergency is a pressing tissue that affects millions across the UK and the challenges are very much present here in our conurbation. 

Boscombe seafront (Image: Stephen Bath)

“Addressing these challenges is a key role for the council and our ambitions to do so are set out in the emerging local plan.” 

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s local plan is now in the hands of the government, who will inspect what is set out regarding housing and determine whether it is allowed or not. 

Houses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole were 4.3 per cent more expensive in 2023 than the year before, at an average price of £340,000. In the meantime, wages saw a 4.1 per cent year-to-year increase. 

BCP's councillors voted in a majority favour to support Labour's motion, chiefly to acknowledge the housing crisis.

What BCP Council will now explore in its forthcoming review of the Housing Strategy:

• Enhancing the ‘Housing First’ approach to tackling homelessness at BCP Council so that no-one has to sleep rough and that the standard of available accommodation is assessed and maintained.
• The existing arrangements in order to make empty properties become available more quickly.
• Lobby central government for a new definition of affordable housing that accurately reflects people’s ability to pay, with some discretion to allow for local pay and housing costs.
• Reviewing, in consultation other appropriate bodies, the viability assessment methodology used for housing developers and ways in which existing rules can be applied or amended to increase the number of affordable homes.
• The possibility of using Dorset Pension Fund and investors in developing an inward investment strategy to support Local Authority-built homes in the BCP area.
• Co-produce a Tenants’ Charter with local residents to influence housing and tenancy standards across BCP.
• The licensing of all private sector rented housing and adding its voice to local and national calls for a ban on ‘no fault’ (Section 21) evictions.
• The existing mandatory licensing of HMOs and if additional measures are required to ensure consistent standards are applied and whether existing enforcement measures are adequate.
• What measures are required to regulate Airbnbs and holiday lets in BCP.
• Whether, given the announcements by the new Government, the house building targets in the Local Plan need reviewing.