Approximately 222,000 new homes have been delivered across England in 2017 to 2018, according to new figures.

This figure represents an annual increase, with only one year in the last 31 years reporting a higher figure.

It also supports the government's plans to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020's.

Significant government reforms, including more streamlined planning rules and more investment into the Affordable Homes Programme, were introduced earlier this year.

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Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP welcomed the figures.

He said: "Today's figures are great news and show another yearly increase in the number of new homes delivered, but we are determined to do more to keep us on track to deliver the homes communities need.

"That's why we have set out an ambitious package of measures to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s. This includes over £44 billion investment, rewriting the planning rules and scrapping the borrowing cap so councils can deliver a new generation of council housing."

(CM/MH)