Just 39 homes were built in the city last year – despite a commitment by the controlling Green Party to build 1,000 homes in four years.

The figures, which include affordable housing, were for home completions from April 2012 to March 2013.

During the same period just nine social rented houses were built, according to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The Green Party pledged to build at least 1,000 affordable homes in four years in its pre-election 2011 manifesto.

But it has only succeeded in completing 100 in two years.

Former council leader Mary Mears said: “If you look at the Green record on house building it’s very, very poor.

“The previous administration produced much higher figures. With the Greens there’s a lot of talk but not a lot of action. There isn’t enough movement on the schemes.

“They’re spending an awful lot of the housing revenue account on consultants and staff but they’re not actually delivering anything. Our waiting list has grown considerably in Brighton.

People will be on the waiting list for years.”

Around 15,600 households are waiting for a home on the Housing Register.

Councillor Bill Randall, chairman of the council’s Housing Committee, said 400 new housing association homes were being built with another 300 homes identified on council estates across the city.

He said: “Finding the money is a challenge. The Government has made deep cuts in housing spending, and the extra money promised for housing this week won’t become available until 2015.

“Nevertheless, we are pressing forward with the plans for the regeneration of the Circus Street Market sites, which will yield further affordable homes, and we are working on plans for the redevelopment of Preston Barracks with Brighton University where we hope the lion’s share of the 300 homes planned will be built and managed by housing co-ops.

“Plans for the development of a One Planet community at Toad’s Hole Valley are in the City Plan with cross–party support and will provide at least 700 homes, plus a school, community facilities, modern office spaces and new open spaces.”

In the past year, Seaside Community Homes has brought 280 council owned homes back into use and more than 300 empty homes brought back into use, he said.