Two thirds of Britons want more homes built in order to provide homes for younger people and those on lower incomes to tackle the worst housing crisis the country has seen in generations, according to a new poll.

The YouGov survey, which was commissioned by the National Housing Federation, found strong support for increasing the supply of new homes after house-building last year slumped to its lowest level since the 1920s.

And despite a high profile lobbying campaign against the Government's reforms to the planning system, a majority (54%) back its 'presumption in favour of sustainable development'.

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The Federation, which represents England’s housing associations, said the results highlighted how there was now a general consensus that the country was facing a housing crisis and that building more homes was the only effective way to solve it.

The debate over planning reform needed to move away from the divisive and over simplistic battle between 'pro-development groups' and 'environmentalists', the group said.

Federation chief executive David Orr said housing associations were passionate about the countryside and had no plans or desire to build on greenbelt land. He said he wanted to work closely with environmental groups to find a constructive path forward and get homes built to support rural life.

He warned that with 700,000 people on waiting lists in rural England, it was vital homes were built for young people and those on modest income to help them live and support their local communities.

The national planning policy framework (NPPF), which cuts more than 1,000 pages of planning regulation down to 52, should help increase the supply of desperately needed homes – but not on greenbelt land or where there is strong local opposition.

(CD)