JUST 20 affordable homes are expected to be built in Castle Point this financial year, meaning the council will miss its target of 32 homes for social rent, or shared ownership.

Eight flats at Grovewood Court, in Kiln Road, Thundersley, have already been completed.

A further 12 in Olive Road, Hadleigh, are due to be finished before April.

Construction has commenced on ten new properties in Long Road, Canvey.

But they are not expected to be completed by the end of the financial year.

All eight of the homes in Kiln Road, which were built by East Thames Housing Group with Government funding, are now occupied.

Five have been sold on a shared ownership basis, with prices starting from £34,500, for a 30 per cent share in a one-bedroom flat.

The remaining three are occupied on a rent now, buy later scheme, which sees tenants get some of their rent back after five years for a deposit.

Wendy Goodwin, cabinet member responsible for homes, said: “This development was taken up within days of being released.

“It shows how desperate people are for affordable housing.”

The council also created two more properties for social rent, through an agreement with housing association Family Mosaic.

The not-for-profit organisation was paid £185,000 of cash collected from developers under planning agreements, which it used to buy two one-bedroom flats in Benfleet, for letting to residents.