Building more co-living developments and micro-homes in urban areas tops the list of people’s preferred solutions to the housing crisis, while building on the greenbelt was rarely favoured, according to new research from the Federation of Master Builders.

The FMB asked 2,000 homeowners across the UK if they believed there is a housing shortage, and if so, how best to address it. The survey found that 66 per cent of respondents believe there is a shortage of housing in the UK.

When asked for views on the most appropriate solutions the crisis, the most common answers were to build more co-living developments (33 per cent), more micro homes in urban areas (31 per cent), more granny flats (31 per cent), extend permitted development rights (27 per cent), encourage more multi-generational living (24 per cent), excavate or convert more basements underneath existing properties (18 per cent), or the least favoured, build on the green belt (17 per cent).