The figures showed that more than 1.1 million homes have been delivered since 2010.

Communities secretary Sajid Javid (pictured above) welcomed the latest figures as he set out the next steps in fixing the broken housing market and boosting the construction of more homes.

During his speech in Bristol – which over the past year has seen one of the largest increases in England in the number of homes (30%) – he delivered his vision for housing.

Mr Javid also announced action against 15 local authorities that have failed to deliver a local plan revealing how and where they expected to meet their residents’ needs for new homes.

“These latest figures are clear evidence that this government is turning things around with over 1.1 million homes delivered since 2010,” said Mr Javid.

“Steps have been made in the right direction – but I want to see a giant leap, and hundreds of thousands more homes.

“We owe it to our future generations to fix this broken housing market and help them find a home of their own.

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“While some councils are recognising their responsibilities and stepping up to meet the housing challenge, too many are still not acting.

“That’s why I’m stepping in now to make sure they act.”

The latest figures revealed that more than 70 authorities still haven’t adopted a local plan, and a further 15 of those are showing cause for concern having missed deadlines and failed to make progress.

The 15 local authorities are:

• Basildon
• Brentwood
• Bolsover
• Calderdale
• Castle Point
• Eastleigh
• Liverpool
• Mansfield
• North East Derbyshire
• Northumberland
• Runnymede
• St Albans
• Thanet
• Wirral
• York

The authorities will have until 31^st January 2018 to explain why they haven’t published a plan and provide any exceptional circumstances for why the government shouldn’t intervene.