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“To tackle the shortage of suitable homes for older and disabled people, councils need greater planning powers and resources to hold developers to account, ensuring that they build the right homes in the right places needed by different groups within the local community."

“Behind every instance of homelessness lies an individual tragedy and councils want to work with the new government to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place and support those affected.

Today’s announcement shows that the Government has listened to our calls and continued to fund homelessness services

“The report highlights some important learning for councils and government to take forward to improve fairness and accuracy within the benefits system."

The LGA said councils want to work with the Government to tackle the housing shortage and ensure new housing meets the needs of communities. As part of this, it is calling on permitted development rules to be scrapped and local communities to be allowed to have a vital say on new developments in their area.

“Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction but more should be done to help meet the challenges renters and councils face."

“It is alarming that so many private renters are suffering from housing worries, and councils want to work with government to help meet the challenges renters face."

Cllr David Renard, the Local Government Association’s housing spokesman, responds to an announcement by the Housing Secretary that councils will receive an extra £112 million to tackle rough sleeping.

"It is vital that the planning process is protected as part of this, and that local communities have a say over the area they live in. This is the best way to ensure homes are built to high standards with the necessary infrastructure in place, and affordable housing provided."

​​​​​​​More than a million homes granted planning permission in the past decade have not yet been built, according to new analysis by the Local Government Association.