The South East is facing a major shortfall in new homes over the next five years, according to planning consultants.
The report, South East Housing Land Supply Update, examines the published five year housing requirement and land supply position of the 68 Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) across the South East.
It shows the region will require around 208,000 new homes over the next five years.
The report, commissioned by Turley Associates, also reveals that LPAs across the South East claim to have land available for around 164,000 of these homes, leaving a shortfall of at least 44,000 homes.
Ryan Johnson, director and member of the residential development sector team at Turley Associates, said: "Local authorities are required under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to identify and update annually a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years' worth of housing against their objectively assessed housing requirements.
"Our research and report shows that at least 41 of the region's 68 planning authorities fall short of their five year land supply targets."
In Surrey, there is a requirement of 16,497 new homes needed, but only enough land to build 14,088 homes, a shortfall of 2,409.
In West Sussex, 28,569 homes are needed, compared to the 16,059 that could be built – a shortfall of 12,510.
Mr Johnson added: "The need for housing in the South East remains high. Home ownership is increasingly beyond the reach of many lower income households, which will undoubtedly impact on the ability of existing and future generations to live and work in the areas they were born.
"The impact of this on the pace of economic recovery across the region will no doubt continue to be keenly debated.
"Despite this, less than half of the region's local planning authorities have adopted core strategies. This leaves planning policy in these authorities in a state of flux and uncertainty that will further delay the delivery of much needed homes across South East."
The South East Housing Land Supply Update report provides a snapshot of housing needs across the South East's 68 local planning authorities as of April 1, 2013.
