People urged to take part in rural parish Housing Survey

A survey is being launched today by Dorset Council and Dorset Community Action to find out about the local housing need in a Purbeck parish. 

The council is urging the residents of Morden, both past and present, to complete the questionnaire as the results will be shared with the community towards the end of November.

The survey should take between five to fifteen minutes to complete and will depend on the respondents’ circumstances.

Questions will cover the type and size of existing accommodation, people who want to buy or rent in the parish, downsizing and there will be an opportunity to give opinions and suggestions for affordable and other housing provision in the future.

People with other links to Morden are also being asked to take part and include anyone with family who live there now or have done so in the past.  People who work in Morden and other local businesses are also being encouraged to participate.

Gill Taylor, Cabinet Member for Health and Housing, said; “We are really pleased to launch this survey, which will be administered by members of our team including the Rural Housing Enabler for Dorset, who is employed by Dorset Community Action as part of a national DEFRA funded project.

The Parish Council and Ward Councillor Alex Brenton (Lytchett Matravers and Upton) requested this work, and we were more than happy to facilitate, as it is something we have been keen to get off the ground for a while.

We hope this will also be the first of many and we already have plans to launch the next one on behalf of Puncknowle and Swyre Parish Council.”

Having presented the findings to the community, the information can be used to guide future housing in the area.

Morden parish is made up of the communities of West Morden, East Morden, Morden, Charborough and Whitefield.

There is also a link to the Dorset Council Housing Register for anyone who feels they are eligible and wishes to apply.

The Housing Needs Survey is live online from 10 October to 30 October 2024.

Please see the link below.

https://consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/housing/22f2a571

Although the survey is anonymous, there is an option to include contact details and add a telephone number for anyone who would like to be involved.

For further information or support in completing the survey, please contact the Housing Enabling Team on 01305 252445 or Jacqui Cuff, Rural Housing Enabler on 07421 994590 or email: jacqui.cuff@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk

This work is supported is by Dorset Council, Dorset Community Action, Funded by UK Government and ACRE, Action with Communities in Rural England.

Paper copies are available on request.

Photo credit: Morden - DORSET BUILDING STONE