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

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

In May more than 80 percent 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 for full-time residents.

Several areas in Dorset face issues with second homes.

As reported in the Echo earlier this year, people 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 and one in 33 in Weymouth and Portland are second homes.

However certain areas face a bigger problem with one in five homes in Lyme Regis second homes.

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

When the Echo posted the story on Facebook, many residents commented from across the area welcoming the idea here.

West Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council have 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 councils aren’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.

Cllr Ray Nowak, environment and sustainability briefholder for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “The councils are starting a review of the local plan, with the first consultation taking place in early 2017, so if any issues are raised we will then review them as part of this process.”

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