These were due to be built in the next 12 months but the HBF has claimed that social housing providers have pulled back from taking on new Section 106 contracts.

HBF analysis suggests around 900 completed affordable homes are currently standing empty due to a lack of commitment from social housing providers to take them on.

According to the HBF, this has led to housebuilders’ growing reluctance to build these homes which has led to a slowing of delivery.

Earlier this summer, HBF members wrote to the government and urged intervention, requesting local authorities be able to engage in negotiations and help ensure affordable homes are built even when a social housing provider is not secured.

•   The Finance Professional Show 2024: The Video
•   Govt forms team to unlock 300,000 stalled homes
•   'Momentum in the UK construction sector stalled' in October through repair and maintenance decline

As a last resort, it’s been suggested that these affordable homes can be changed to an alternative tenure with a payment made to the local planning authority in lieu.

“Government’s social and affordable housing announcements were a welcome step to giving Registered Providers confidence to plan long term, but they are doing little to ease the immediate constraints of delivering Affordable Housing through Section 106 agreements,” said Neil Jefferson, CEO at the HBF.

“Right now, an estimated 100,000 private units are stalled, which not only threatens the supply of much-needed homes but also risks the livelihoods of regional businesses and hardworking tradespeople up and down the country.

“While the government’s housing announcements have been welcome, as it stands, housing associations are unable to bid and private buyers unable to buy, leaving the housing outlook increasingly uncertain.”