Local councils have been urged to be more creative in redeveloping land in a bid to increase the number of new homes built.

With the crisis in affordable housing continuing, regeneration minister Lord Rooker says the current planning laws are limiting plans for new developments.

The government is trying to overhaul what it sees as outdated legislation.

But as a stop-gap Rooker said local councils should take a more radical approach.

"House builders tell me the planning system can act as a barrier to development. Our proposed changes to the planning system should help speed things up," he said last night.

"In the meantime, I would urge councils to think creatively about the land they have and the powers they can use to make sure more high quality homes are provided as a matter of priority."

The minister also warned that the number of new homes being built is still not enough.

Although the government has exceeded a target of having more new housing developments built on brownfield land than ever before this came about because of the record low in new builds.

According to official statistics 64 per cent of all new housing developments, including conversions, were built on brownfield land last year but Lord Rooker admitted this was partly due low numbers of new constructions.

"People need more homes and they need them now. The growth outlined in the Sustainable Communities Plan rightly prioritises brownfield development," he said.

"Use of brownfield sites benefits towns by redeveloping waste ground and run down buildings and benefits the countryside by relieving pressure to build on green fields."