The HBF warned that the housing pipeline is significantly smaller now than it was even during the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis.

It added: “The figures also illustrate the stark challenge a new Government faces to increase housing supply in the coming years highlighting the need for ministers to work closely with the industry to fix the planning system, provide effective assistance to prospective first-time buyers and unblock the estimated 160,000 new homes still unnecessarily held up by a Government quango’s nutrient neutrality rules.”

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman at the federation said: “Amidst a deepening housing crisis and with house building levels already falling sharply, these numbers present a bleak picture for future housing supply.

“Reversing the trend will require immediate and drastic action to remove the significant barriers to housing delivery we face.

“We need to see immediate action to reverse the damaging changes made in recent years to the planning system and to ensure local authorities have the capacity to deal effectively with permissions.

“We also need to see effective support put in place to help buyers purchase high quality, energy efficient new homes. For the first time in many decades, there is no effective Government support in place for prospective buyers.

“It is also essential that politicians find a solution to the pointless blockade of 160,000 homes now entering its sixth year as a result of nutrient neutrality, towards which new homes make a negligible contribution.

”The next government must grasp the nettle and be bold and brave if it is going to help meet the country’s housing needs. Doing so will deliver huge social and economic benefits and the industry stands ready to deliver.”