Calls for a national renaissance in council house building should be heeded in the wake of current economic uncertainty, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Its chief executive Brian Berry said: “The UK is suffering from a chronic shortage of homes and that’s as true now as it was before the UK voted to leave the EU.

"Although the Government has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the scarcity of homes, builders will be waiting for signs that confirm that this isn’t mere rhetoric.

"At present, for every £1 spent on house building by the Government, roughly £4 is spent on housing benefit.

"By increasing public spend on house building, homes will become more affordable and at the same time, significantly decrease the housing benefit bill.

"Prevention is better than the cure and we believe that a commitment by the Government to crank up its programme of council house building would serve to ease any jitters in the building industry and the wider economy.”