COUNCIL bosses have insisted a landmark housing development in Bournemouth IS helping first-time buyers, despite evidence the development has already attracted property investors.

Three flats in the Citrus Building at Horseshoe Common are already being advertised to let on property websites, with prices of up to £1,100 a month for a two-bedroom apartment.

This has happened within days of the £12million development’s official launch, and has sparked claims the 64 apartments will not help the first-time buyers they were originally aimed at.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Roger West sought assurances in 2013 that the flats would be sold to owner occupiers, preferably first-time buyers, and was told the council would put restrictions in place to ensure this was the case.

He said it now appeared the council had “failed” to deliver on this promise.

“It does call into question our relationship with the Bournemouth Development Company which seems to be acting like any other development company and not realising the pressing need for affordable homes,” he said. “Money first, residents second.”

But Bournemouth council insisted this was not the case. It said the development had been a huge success, with 59 of the 64 flats already sold or reserved.

It said 47 per cent of the flats sold so far had gone to first-time buyers and a further 30 per cent had been sold to other owner occupiers.

Council leader Cllr John Beesley said: “Attracting first-time buyers to live in the heart of Bournemouth was one of our aspirations when we set out our long-term regeneration plans.

“Take-up at the architecturally imaginative Citrus Building has been impressive and we are delighted that so many people who have not had the opportunity to own their own home before will now be living in the vibrant area of Horseshoe Common.”