A HOUSING shortfall in North Dorset could force a landslide of developments in area.

Due to a lack of new housing over the last year, North Dorset District Council has fallen below the 'five-year housing land supply'.

The supply is a realistic assessment of the number of homes likely to be built over the next five years.

The total includes any shortfall from earlier years as well as a buffer supply should housing not be delivered as planned.

This level is essential in allowing authorities to control planning applications which are not in line with the adopted local plan.

North Dorset District Council has slipped to a housing land supply of 3.42 years.

The council will now have to apply the national ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ which will allow more development to take place.

Cllr David Walsh, portfolio holder for planning, said: "This is very frustrating for the council. 10 years of hard work has gone into putting a local plan together which sets out how local residents want the area to be developed.

"Through this local plan we have allocated land for development and have given planning permissions to developers, but the market is neglecting to bring forward housing.

"This could mean we may be required to allow development in locations not identified in our current plan, which are neither desirable nor appropriate."

The council cites a very low rate of housing development over the last year - only 140 houses have been completed against the annual target of 285 - as a cause of the limited supply.

They also say slower progress than anticipated on developments allocated in the local plan – such as the major development site south of Gillingham - have created the slump.

Cllr Walsh said the process in place at present is making it difficult for councils.

"The current system is penalising local planning authorities for the lack of development in their areas, even though they are not actually able to influence the delivery of such development," Cllr Walsh added.

"Having met and spoken with planning ministers and the Town and Country Planning Association, I continue to push for local authorities to be given the tools with which to bring forward development on sites with permissions granted.

"We will continue to work with the Gillingham developers to help progress the site so that it can boost our supply in the future."