The plans, announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government this week, would see a target of 5,802 homes to be built in Cambridgeshire each year.

Barratt Redrow chief executive David Thomas was asked if there were enough workers to build extra homes, as the Prime Minister and his deputy Angela Rayner promised. He told the BBC: "The short answer is no."

He said Sir Keir's government would have to "revolutionise the market, revolutionise planning, revolutionise methods of production" to make the housebuilding target of 370,408 new homes across the UK possible.

"They're challenging targets; I think we have to recognise that this is a national crisis," Mr Thomas said.

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) agreed with Mr Thomas, saying the industry is affected by skills shortages, an ageing workforce, and Brexit.

An HBF statement said the UK "does not have a sufficient talent pipeline" of builders to meet Labour's goal.

It cited recruitment constraints with poor perception and lack of training within schools, insufficient apprenticeships, and the costs of taking on apprentices – adding that the sector has not 'attracted' enough recruits recently. A quarter of tradesmen are aged over 50.

Concerns within the construction industry have dampened Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to reach building targets. Sir Keir said he wanted to "get the balance right with nature and the environment" but that "a human wanting to have a house" must be the top priority.