Kingston is "unlikely" to reach its target for providing affordable housing.

Lead member for better homes Councilor Patricia Bamford said local authorities including Kingston, which needs to provide 2,000 such homes by 2026, would struggle to meet government expectations.

By contrast, Kingston Council’s plan to refurbish its housing stock is running ahead of schedule and with a 96 per cent approval rate from tenants, Coun Bamford told the south of the borough committee last week.

She said: "It does improve the value of our housing stock."

Residents who hold the leases to old council houses will have to contribute to external renovations, for which the council has created payment plans.