Shelter's Chief Executive Campbell Robb has described new house building figures as "shocking".

The government figures show that the number of new homes built in the first quarter of this year is down by 46% from the first quarter of 2007.

26,090 homes were completed in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 48,580 in the first quarter of 2007. Of those 26,090 new homes, 5,760 were registered social landlord homes and 60 were new local authority homes.


Mr Robb said: "If these levels of house building continue throughout the year, there will be 140,000 fewer homes than independent estimates of what’s needed to house the hundreds of thousands of people desperate for a decent and affordable place to live.

"We urge the government to show its commitment to housing by setting out explicit plans to increase affordable housing delivery, as well as a long-term strategy to end our housing crisis."

(CD/GK)