More than 153,000 new homes were built in the last year - an increase of 11% compared to the 12 months before, new figures have shown.

The Government said the number of new homes that have started to be built has also risen to the highest level since 2008, with work started on 164,960 new homes.

Housing and planning minister Alok Sharma said: ‘Today's figures are proof that we are getting Britain building again, with new housing starts reaching record levels since 2009.

‘It's vital we maintain this momentum to deliver more quality homes in the places that people want to live.

‘Our housing white paper set out an ambitious package of long-term reforms to do just that.'

However, housing charity Shelter said the increase still fell short of the 250,000 homes a year required.

Communities and local government spokeswoman for the Lib Dems, Wera Hobhouse, said: 'The Government should not be rejoicing when there are still only roughly half the number of homes needed each year actually being built.
 
'There are still millions of people stuck on housing waiting lists or desperately trying to get on the housing ladder, who feel utterly ignored.
 
'The housing crisis will simply not be solved at this rate of building.

'The Government must get its hands dirty and intervene in our broken housing market.'