THE hundreds of new homes being crammed into Dorset are satisfying "housing want" instead of tackling real housing need, it has been claimed.

Now a former Bournemouth mayor hopes an alliance of public, private and charitable organisations could spearhead a battle against over-development in Dorset.

Douglas Eyre is chair of Bournemouth 2026 - formerly called the Bournemouth Partnership - which brings together Bournemouth council, private business and community groups.

He says many of the new flats being built in the town are providing second homes for outsiders and contributing to a breakdown in community.

And he said consultation had shown the strength of public concern.

Mr Eyre said: "Unfortunately only a small proportion of what's been built is what can be seriously called affordable housing.

"The increasing majority is for people who are looking for second homes and investment property."

The extra homes were too often addressing "housing want" rather than "housing need", he added.

He hoped Bournemouth 2026 could help persuade regional government to change the policies which have been blamed for forcing councillors to approve intensive development.

But Mr Eyre, a former Liberal Democrat leader of the borough council, said there would have to be "passionate" and united lobbying from the town.

"As a town we have to articulate far better than we have the strength of public feeling and I don't think the representations purely by council planning officials are really reflective of how much concern there is from the people who live in Bournemouth," he added.

Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin, Conservative leader of the current council, said the authority was opposed to government requirements that it should find space for up to 780 more homes a year until 2026.

"I do welcome Douglas's initiative. I think it's important for everybody concerned about the future development in Bournemouth to speak with one voice," he said.

"Having spoken to a lot of people across the town, not least during the election, there's a degree of realism that there will be change in Bournemouth as there is in any town over time, but what people are concerned about is that development is changing the character of the town.

"A lot of people are concerned that if things go on as they have been, we could end up with Milton Keynes-on-Sea, with anonymous offices and blocks of flats which could have been built anywhere."