Local authorities in England are to lose more than eight times as many council homes in 2025-26 as were completed the previous year, a think-tank has warned.
Research by Common Wealth found only 2,260 council homes were built in 2024-25.
It comes as the number of council homes sold off is expected to rise dramatically from 8,656 in 2024-25 to just over 18,000 in 2025-26.
The think-tank called for more Government investment to accelerate the building of council homes. It also said councils should be given the right of first refusal when former social homes and private rental homes go up for sale.
Report author and housing expert at Common Wealth, Adam Peggs, said: ‘We need to pull every effective lever we can find to expand public housing.
‘The Government has the tools to turn this emergency around — and more quickly than they might admit. They just need to use them.'
