The Government says it wants to push up house-building targets for Kent and the south east in a move that has dismayed environmental groups and many council chiefs.

Ministers have announced today that they want to see house-building targets for the region increase by four per cent to help first-time buyers and to increase the availibility of affordable homes.

The Government’s call comes in its verdict on the South East Plan, a key planning blueprint that sets out how many homes should be built Kent and the south east between now and 2026.

Ministers say the annual target for the region should be increased to 33,125 homes a year. Following a public inquiry last year, inspectors had recommended a target of 32,000 homes. South east councils had originally argued for 28,900.

For Kent, the impact will be mixed but some districts stand to see a major increase in development under the Government’s recommendations.

Kent County Council leader Cllr Paul Carter, who became the new chairman of the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) this week, said: "The Government seems determined to show it has the power to override the region’s own realistic housing targets, which balance growth with the need for decent infrastructure and to protect the environment. These new Government targets threaten to destroy that balance."

He added: "It is unacceptable to increase housing numbers to a level that threatens to be undeliverable – particularly in the current economic climate."

Announcing further consultation on the plan, Communities Minister Parmjit Dhanda said: "The South East needs a long term development vision that addresses housing shortages, tackles the threat of climate change and strengthens the region’s economy. Beyond the short term squeeze of the credit crunch the number of new households are still outgrowing the number of homes being built - first time buyers are getting older and more people are choosing to live alone. If more homes are not built now for the long term the housing ladder will get even further out of reach leaving the next generation with nowhere to live."

More than a third of all housing will have to be affordable.

A final version of what is known as the Regional Spatial Strategy will be published after a further round of consultation.