AN Alton councillor is urging planners to press for more low-cost development to enable local youngsters to take the first step on the property ladder.
With the cost of housing in the area way beyond the means of many young people, Allan Chick believes Alton should follow Basingstoke's lead by insisting on more starter homes.
Speaking at last week's meeting of Alton Town Council's policy and resources committee, Mr Chick spoke passionately about the need for low-cost housing for young people in Alton.
While the local plan makes provision for developers to build a percentage of social housing on larger sites, to meet the need of those on benefits, this, he explained, was not the same as providing low-cost units for those in the £25k to £30k salary bracket who could not afford current market prices.
He pointed out that in Basingstoke the council had worked with developers to encourage the building of starter homes, many of which were now occupied by Alton's young people.
Mr Chick expressed disappointment that East Hampshire District Council had not taken a similar initiative.
"I don't believe our planning officers are working with developers to say this is what our community needs," said Mr Chick who feels the time has come to reverse the developer-led trend and look rather at providing homes which will address the needs of local people.
As such, he has put his name forward as Alton Town Council's representative on East Hampshire District Council's newly formed housing and community needs panel.
It was also agreed by P & R members, that a request be made for the county's Housing Strategy Statement to be more pro-active in looking at and addressing local community housing needs.