FEWER and fewer people are finding themselves able to grasp the first rung of the property ladder these days.

With house prices continuing to rocket and the income required to buy a three-bedroom house in Poole standing at nearly £75,000, is it any wonder?

The problem has grown so bad that this week Chancellor Gordon Brown announced plans to provide financial assistance to help first-time buyers get onto the housing ladder.

After all, once on the ladder, buying a house has, over many years, proved a highly rewarding investment.

Today, the borough of Poole is battling to shrug off its image as a retirement town and must attract younger people to set up home in the area if it is to have a sustainable future.

This is where the idea of affordable housing comes in.

The initiative offers the opportunity to buy a share of a housing association property, and pay rent for the other percentage. Properties for rent at a lower rate than in the private sector are also available through the scheme.

Borough of Poole has set aside £18million - including a £16.5m grant from the Housing Corporation - to provide 600 affordable housing units in the town for 2004-2006 and the initiative looks set to become an on-going programme.

The first of these units are now being released to the market, offering 64 low-income households the chance to either rent or buy part of their own property.

Located above the new Asda superstore in West Quay Road, the Harbour Sail apartments comprise 32 rented homes and 32 homes for sale through the shared ownership scheme, all owned by Raglan Housing Association.

While affordable housing has always been on the council's agenda, this particular type of project is new for the town.

Housing needs manager Kelly Ansell explained: "Asda is the landowner of the whole site including the superstore but also some private housing - 40 per cent of the total amount is affordable housing.

"Every site where a developer builds over 15 housing units we would look to negotiate 40 per cent affordable housing on that site."

One-bedroom apartments at Harbour Sail will begin at around £100,000, with a minimum 40 per cent share therefore costing £40,000. Buyers can also "staircase out" and buy a further percentage of the property as time goes on.

A second, very different, development by Western Challenge Housing Association - the Seldown Eco-Village - is also nearing completion, with properties expected to be ready by August.

The site features 86 one-, two-, three- and four-bed flats and houses available through the shared ownership scheme, general needs renting and for key workers.

Prices on the properties for sale start at £127,000 for a one-bedroom flat and go up to £195,000 for a three-bedroom house.

Regional development manager Hugh Lambourne explained the idea behind the project.

"The brief was that it had to be this architectural flagship and it should be as environmentally-friendly as possible.

"There's lots of insulation and a really efficient heating system. As many blocks as possible face south to get as much daylight and as much of the suns' energy in and windows facing north are smaller to let less heat out."

A further two sites in Poole are currently undergoing development to provide 44 affordable housing units.

On the site of Trinidad First School 44 affordable homes are being created by Knightstone Housing Association and at Pitwines 141 of the 512 properties will be affordable and owned and managed by both Knightstone and Swaythling Housing Society.

Leader of the council Cllr Brian Leverett has said that the 600 units planned for Poole is "not enough". But it is, at least, a step in the right direction.

"Low cost home ownership presents those earning modest incomes the opportunity to buy a home of their own and get a foot on the property ladder," said Cllr Bill Wretham, portfolio holder for housing and community services.

"We are keen to make sure that option is available for Poole households as without it they would struggle to afford the prices commanded in the area."