More than 170,000 new homes were built in the year to June, an 8% increase compared with the previous 12 months and the highest number for 11 years.

The same period also saw the proportion of family houses being built increase to 78% of all the new dwellings – the highest since 2000.

The figures were released as the government announced new measures as part of the accelerated planning green paper, which will quicken the pace of decision making and get building started faster.

New permitted development rights, including allowing the demolition and reconstruction of old commercial buildings, as well as requiring councils to meet timescales or refund planning application fees, are also aimed at providing more homes as quickly as possible.

A government spokesman said: “The data released is hugely welcome, with the number of new homes built reaching an 11-year high. We are moving in the right direction, but there is still much more to do if we are going to deliver the numbers needed by communities up and down the country.”

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