PEOPLE can have their say over housing needs in a Purbeck parish in a new survey.

Dorset Council and Dorset Community Action have launched a questionnaire to find out more about the housing need in Morden.

Residents past and present are being urged to complete the survey, with results set to be shared towards the end of November.

The survey should take between five and 15 minutes to complete and will depend on the respondents’ circumstances, with questions covering the type and size of existing accommodation, people who want to buy or rent in the parish, downsizing, and 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.

Those who work in Morden and other local businesses are also being encouraged to participate.

Gill Taylor, cabinet member for health and housing at Dorset Council, 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 will be live online until October 30, at https://consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/housing/22f2a571. Paper copies are available on request.

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, 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.