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demand for cheap housing

Three in four Brits want more cheap homes in their area to ease the housing crisis

The significant shift in ­attitude is replicated across the country and among all political allegiances and ages

THREE in four people now want more cheap homes to be built in their area as Brits turn their back on nimbyism, a major new report has revealed.

A social attitudes survey found there has been a ­dramatic surge in support for development on people’s own doorsteps to ease the ­spiralling housing crisis.

 73 per cent of Brits want new homes to be built if they are affordable to people on lower wages
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73 per cent of Brits want new homes to be built if they are affordable to people on lower wagesCredit: Alamy

Backing for new local homes has doubled from just 29 per cent in 2010 to 57 per cent. And the figure rockets to 73 per cent if the new homes to be built are affordable to ­people on lower wages.

The significant shift in ­attitude is replicated across the country and among all political allegiances and ages.

The findings come after The Sun yesterday revealed the ­revolutionary blueprint that PM Theresa May will unveil next week.

Prime Minister Theresa May will unveil a revolutionary new housing policy next week
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Prime Minister Theresa May will unveil a revolutionary new housing policy Credit: Alamy
She will pressure councils to build hundreds of thousands more homes and begin construction on the green belt
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 She will pressure councils to build hundreds of thousands more homes and begin construction on the green beltCredit: Getty Images

And they are a boost for her plans to force councils to allow hundreds of thousands more homes to be built every year by relaxing height ­restrictions, building on some of the green belt and taking on land-hoarding developers.

The survey was commissioned by the National Housing ­Federation. NHF chief executive David Orr said: “We are no longer a nation of nimbys but some in Westminster have yet to grasp this.”

Campaigners gave the PM’s bold ambitions a warm welcome. Shelter’s head of policy Anne Baxendale said: “It’s good to see reports the Government is getting serious about building more homes.”

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