Report casts doubt on Labour’s ability to hit affordable housing target

Angela Rayner (left) is at loggerheads with Rachel Reeves over how much the housing department should be given to build affordable homes. Photograph: Cameron Smith/Getty Images

Rachel Reeves is under renewed pressure to spend billions more on affordable housing, after an industry report suggested the government had significantly overestimated how many new homes would be built over the next few years.

The chancellor is being urged by figures inside and outside the government to spend heavily on affordable housing at this month’s spending review, as a report by one of the country’s biggest property consultancies cast doubt on official forecasts.