Savills latest findings has shown that for the government to meet the target for 300,000 homes a year target it will only be able to do so if funding for affordable housing is increased.

Kate Henderson, ceo of the National Housing Federation, said: “Without government investment in affordable housing, it just won’t be possible to build enough homes to ensure that everyone can have somewhere stable and affordable to live.”

Emily Williams, associate director for residential research at Savills, commented: “Private sector housebuilding for market sale has underpinned the rapid expansion in housing supply since 2013, including affordable housing delivery through Section 106.

But that growth is slowing against market headwinds. Increased grant funding would widen the range of tenures being built, accelerating the speed of market absorption and therefore the build out of sites.”