Boris Johnson’s “Build Build Build” announcement earlier this year was designed to help drag the UK economy out of what could prove to be a steep recession, with a programme to spend billions of pounds on infrastructure to build back to prosperity.

In his speech, the prime minister confirmed his commitment to long-term investment in some of the country’s most deprived regions, arguing that balancing the books must wait until recovery is secure, and this also meant a much-needed boost for properties in the planning pipeline.

Government data shows that net housing additions pre-lockdown were not meeting demand, reflecting the fact that housebuilders were still not building enough new homes, contributing significantly to the affordability crisis and overcrowding in many parts of the UK.

To help fix the dysfunctional housing market and make properties more accessible, the Conservatives, in their election manifesto last year, promised to increase housebuilding levels by delivering an average of 300,000 new build homes a year by the mid-2020s.

However, the election result has changed very little in terms of housing market fundamentals, with the market continuing to be plagued by a shortage of stock.

As part of its plans to boost the supply of new build homes, the government is now planning to revise its proposals for planning reforms in England, after new housing targets prompted a backlash amongst some senior Conservative MPs

Ministers have proposed redesigning the formula for where to build residential properties to meet its aim of delivering more homes. It aims to provide a rough estimate to local councils on how many homes need to be built in their communities.

A number of Tory MPs have expressed concern that the governments’ plan could mean more homes in rural areas and in the South East, rather than the North and Midlands.

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who was among those to meet with the housing secretary Robert Jenrick last week to raise his concerns about the formula, insisting that it needs to be rebalanced to offer a fairer geographical spread, thanked his colleague on Twitter for “listening to the concerns of me and many other MPs”.

He added: “We support your desire for more houses to help young people get on the housing ladder and will work with you to make sure a revised algorithm achieves that.”

Although there is currently not much detail, it is thought the focus will shift towards building more homes in the North and Midlands, and in urban areas or city centres.