LANDOWNERS in Bridport who might want to donated or sell plots at a reduced price could help solve the affordable housing crisis, town councillors were told.

Members of the Environment and Social Wellbeing committee heard that plans to set up a Community Land Trust for the town are gathering pace and potential sites that could become social housing will need to be identified.

Committee chairman Ros Kayes said that Bridport should become a protected area, not subject to right-to-buy legislation which would mean that housing would remain available for those unable to afford market prices, rather than be sold on the open market.

Councillors were considering a report on affordable homes in the Bridport area from the working group of the Bridport Local Area Partnership, which warned West Dorset District Council of the need to consider “radical” measures.

The report warned of a growing waiting list for subsidised rental properties in an area where there is a huge disparity between average wages and average house prices.

Coun Kayes said that the government refused to back down on right-to-buy rules which could mean that a shared equity property could be bought out by the part-owner and sold on the open market, removing the house from the social housing stock.

Coun Kayes said: “There are pieces of land around, not necessarily large, which could help with this problem.”