New research has predicted that skills shortages in the building industry will hamper housing delivery.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) House Builders' Survey 2018 has predicted that the issue will eventually overtake access to finance as a bigger barrier to building new homes.

The survey, which assessed small and medium sized (SME) house builders in England, saw 44 per cent state that a shortage of skilled workers is a major barrier to their ability to build more new homes.

Fifty nine per cent stated that a lack of available and viable land was the biggest issue, with almost two-thirds of SME house builders believing that the number of opportunities for small site development are decreasing.

When asked to look ahead over the next three years, more firms cited skills shortages as a likely barrier to growth than access to finance.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: "Nearly half of builders believe the skills shortage is a major barrier to their ability to build new homes.

"The construction sector is heavily reliant on EU workers with just under one in ten workers in the sector born in the EU.

"Brexit, coupled with the end of free movement, threatens to further intensify the skills shortages we already face.

"Given that the UK will leave the EU in less than six months, house builders are understandably concerned that skills shortages could worsen and choke housing delivery."

To view the survey, visit fmb.org.uk/House-Builders-Survey-2018