The report challenges the two counties over their “lack of will” to address the problem of affordable homes, instead relying on Brighton & Hove’s enviable record on housing. It also challenges the two Councils on their record of providing new homes of any description.

The Structure Plan for East Sussex and Brighton & Hove required that the city build an average of 540 houses per annum between 1991 and 2006 and then 260 per annum between 2006 and 2011. In reality, Brighton & Hove far exceeded these figures actually building 20% above the target up to 2004.

The Brighton & Hove Local Plan asks for developers to deliver 40% affordable housing on all sites with 10 or more residential units. The Local Plan Inspector, who suggested that the government guideline of 25% should apply with 30% being permissible in exceptional circumstances, challenged this policy. The city council has decided to reject the Inspector’s recommendation – a stance that is supported by SEERA’s South East Plan (SEP), which proposes a 40% target across the region. The Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership (BHEP) has supported the 40% figure in its responses to the SEP and the Local Plan.