PLANS to slash Brighton and Hove’s soaring housing waiting list in half have been put on hold.

A bid to remove 15,000 residents from the housing register in the “biggest shake-up” in council housing allocation in decades has stalled.

Under the proposals, council home applicants would have to have a stronger connection to the city and no council debts, with caps introduced on income and right-to-buy residents excluded.

But the plans have been put on hold for two months after opposition councillors claimed the overhaul had been rushed through and that some changes were “draconian”.

The move is in response to the growth of the council housing register to more than 24,000 applicants, up from 10,504 six years ago.

The number of residents in the lower band C has grown almost five-fold in nine years building up, in the council's own words, “unrealistic expectations” for thousands of people it will never be able to assist.

The growth in applicants has led to a huge increase in administration for council officers with requests to increase personal bandings, complaints and enquires.

The council has also been advised that by currently giving priority to applicants in work, it could be in breach of equality legislation and discriminating against single mothers.

Changes proposed include insisting residents must have lived in the city for five years instead of two to be on the housing list

The council is looking at excluding home owners, applicants with rent arrears, and any who refuse an offer of "suitable accommodation".

The council had sought to apply the new allocation policy immediately to all new applications joining the register and to reassess current applications by March but this will now be deferred for at least two months.

Residents who no longer meet the requirements for the housing list will be offered advice on alternative housing options.

Councillor David Gibson, Green housing spokesman, said it was “scandalous” the council had consulted estate agents and home-owners but not tenant reps.

He said: “These proposals constitute the biggest shake up of the way council housing is allocated in the city in decades, yet it is being rushed through after a shoddy and limited "consultation".

Conservative Councillor Mary Mears said: “Our members have got concerns that some of these changes are quite draconian especially in terms of having to accept one offer."