The Government has cut the number of new homes it wants built in Sussex during the next five years.

Ministers propose that 2,290 new homes should be built in East Sussex instead of 2,333.

The figure is still more than the 1,873 new homes suggested by the South East Regional Planning Conference, known as Serplan.

In West Sussex the Government wants 2,890 houses built every year instead of 2,933. Serplan recommended 2,270.

Across the South East the number of homes has been scaled down. Ministers originally proposed 43,000 more homes a year for the region until 2016 to meet the needs of a growing population. Regional planners argued that it should be 33,000.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has revised the Government figure to 39,000 a year until 2006.

East Sussex County Councillor Roy Martin, said: "Any crumb of news is good news about housing. It would have been better if it was 33,000 homes but this is a reduction, which is important."

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper, who was in favour of the original Government proposals, was concerned there would be an impact on Brighton and Hove.

He said: "I am interested to know the implications of this on Brighton and Hove, where we have a very severe housing shortage."

Ministers have accepted it would be "neither feasible nor necessary" to insist on 43,000 homes a year before 2006.

Housing Minister Nick Raynsford said: "We are quite confident this is the right way forward."