Britain is heading for a property shortage of more than a million homes by 2022 unless the current rate of housebuilding is dramatically increased, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The reports highlight the challenges to ministers, planners, housebuilders and housing associations that arise from the pressing need to tackle housing shortages in the South and to achieve an 'urban renaissance' in the Midlands and North.

Forum Response: Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Lord Best, director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, told ePolitix.com: "We estimate that the difference between housing demand and supply will have widened into a yawning gap of 1.1 million homes in England alone by 2022: most of it in London and the South East. This genuinely shocking statistic shows why the time has come for policy makers to recognise that a plentiful supply of new and affordable homes is of the greatest importance the nation's future health and prosperity."

"The bulk of the new homes could go on recycled 'brownfield', but this will only happen if there is positive planning, land assembly and decontamination of polluted sites. Investment in our older areas is vital on environmental as well as social and economic grounds.

"Even so, we have got to be honest and accept that not all of the necessary housing can be built on recycled land. Even if the government's target of building 60 per cent of new homes on 'brownfield' land were met, at least 84,000 homes would need to be built each year on undeveloped 'greenfield' sites."

Forum Response: Shelter

Chris Holmes, director of Shelter, told ePolitix.com: "Shelter recognises the need for more homes to be built, particularly affordable housing in the south of England. The shortage of affordable housing is causing increased overcrowding, homelessness and a record number of homeless households being forced to live in temporary accommodation.

"We must challenge the short sighted nimbyist lobby, which campaigns to prevent more homes being built but fails to see the damaging long term impact this will have on our communities in terms of increased homelessness and a shortage of public sector workers.

"Shelter welcomed the new measures to tackle homelessness announced by Stephen Byers last week. We are now calling on the chancellor to back these measures up with sustained long term investment in affordable housing in the forthcoming spending review."