This is due to a worsening in the Section 106 agreement process, with 70% of local authorities reporting average negotiation timescales exceeding 12 months.

Freedom of Information requests by the HBF found that the time taken to finalise Section 106 agreements had increased by 20% over the last two years from 425 days to 515.

Additionally, 35% of all Section 106 agreements take longer than 12 months to complete.

The HBF found the longest recorded time scale reached 2,679 days, or seven years.

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A lack of capacity within local authorities has been blamed for this with the HBF now calling on the government to ensure they are better resourced.

In addition, the HBF wants a standardised national template to be introduced to reduce inconsistencies and negotiation times.

“The delays in negotiating Section 106 agreements are a clear example of how a lack of capacity in local authorities and inconsistencies in the planning process are affecting the delivery of much-needed homes,” said Neil Jefferson, CEO at the HBF.

“While the government has acknowledged the staffing constraints and taken welcome steps to address delays in the planning process, we now need to see meaningful action to increase capacity at a scale commensurate with the importance of the challenge.”