Plumbing work on newbuild construction sites has fallen further with housing approvals at second lowest levels for five years

New figures produced by construction research body Glenigan show 25,171 residential planning permissions granted between April and July – 24% down on the first three months of the year and 23% less than a year ago.

Housebuilders have warned that despite government planning reforms, rather than facing an explosion of house building on the green belt the industry will, in fact, fail to produce the homes necessary to tackle the 60,000 shortfall in houses.

Stewart Baseley, executive chair of the House Builders Federation, said: "These new figures paint a bleak picture. We already have an acute housing crisis that is affecting the quality of life of families, young and old, across the country and the economy. Today's extremely low levels of permissions will only make things worse in the short term.

"The figures clearly reveal that while the debate about planning is currently being hijacked by irresponsible scaremongering from anti-growth groups our housing crisis is set to worsen."

"Government must stand firm and deliver a planning system that supports home building and economic growth. If it doesn't, the social and economic implications will be felt for generations."