More than 66,000 'affordable' homes have been built over the last year, according to new figures.

A total of 66,640 new properties were developed, 55% higher than last year and the highest annual increase since 1993.

Overall, more than 270,000 new 'affordable' homes have been delivered since 2010.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: "Today's figures show how far we've come to get the country building, bringing the industry back from the brink to deliver the highest annual increase in affordable housebuilding for over 2 decades.

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"But we are far from complacent and the doubling of government investment in housebuilding announced at the recent Spending Review reaffirms our commitment to deliver a million new homes by 2020.

"Affordable homes to rent and buy are a key part of that, helping to give young people and families across the country the best possible start in life."

However, the number of homes built for social rent fell by 12% to 9,590, lower than the 10,920 delivered in 2013-14 and the lowest since records began in 1991/92.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis added: "Our housebuilding efforts are paying off and can be seen by this considerable increase in the number of affordable homes built in just one year."

(LM/CD)