Almost £30 million will be spent on providing low-cost homes during the coming year.

Brighton and Hove City Council and the Housing Corporation are jointly planning to spend £13.5 million in the city. Most of the money will be spent through housing associations.

Council housing director Alan McCarthy said: "This levers in private finance and other matched funding that will enable development in the order of £30 million.

"This considerable financial investment both helps address housing needs and provides significant impetus to the local economy and employment."

Details of new schemes have not been finalised but the council expects a start to be made on over 240 homes during the year.

It will be a big increase on the current year's figure where 131 homes are currently under construction.

Priority is being given to buying existing run-down homes suitable for larger families and then renovating them.

A new initiative this year will provide a scheme which will prevent families losing their homes through lack of money by providing help with their mortgages.

There will also be 66 homes offering care and support to those in need.

These include people who are vulnerable, mentally-ill or who have drink and drugs problems.

There will be a big increase in homes available for people ready to move on from hostels provided for the homeless.

Some homes are likely to be provided outside Brighton and Hove.

Already in a pilot project, the council has liaised with Adur District Council to provide 28 family homes.

The programme will concentrate wherever possible on regenerating derelict town centre sites through renovating old buildings and putting new ones on brownfield sites.

Many of the homes will be specially built so they can be used by disabled people.

The homes are being built by housing associations approved by the council such as Orbit, Southern Housing New Downland, SLFHA, CHDA, NBHA, Sanctuary, Guinness, Moat, Hyde and John Grooms.