In England an annual increase of more than 200,000 households is predicted over the next 20 years, most of them in the South East.

Campaigners are influencing the future of housing

This has raised concerns about what the effect of these new homes will be on the environment, where they will be built, and how to make sure homes are affordable.

We spoke to six people campaigning to influence the future of housing, addressing issues including rising house prices, regeneration, the shortage of affordable housing and how to minimise the environmental impact of new homes.

Read their stories below and find out why they decided to take action.

Read the full Action Network story: Priced out of the housing market

Liz Overend has been planning to buy a house for seven years, during which time prices have spiralled.

Now the average house price in her area is six times her salary and she can no longer afford to buy a home of her own.

Liz is part of a movement called Priced Out. They are putting pressure on politicians to change the housing market, so that homebuyers are given priority over investors.

"We want the government to restrict the buy-to-let market. Limited housing stock should be prioritised for home ownership, not used for financial gain," Liz says.

Read the full Action Network story: Setting up trusts for affordable housing

Richard Clark thinks Community Land Trusts are the answer for many struggling to buy their first home.

Trusts allow a community to collectively purchase a piece of land which can be used to build affordable housing.

Homes can't be sold for personal profit, so they continue to provide affordable accommodation for future homeowners.

"Getting people to work together to become homeowners is a great way to stem the current housing crisis," Richard says.

Read the full Action Network story: Regenerating our sink estate

Robert Henry describes his area of Inverclyde as a slum. It has become so run down that flats are selling for as little as �5,000.

He's found innovative ways to publicise the need for regeneration, including sending Christmas cards with photos of the area to councillors.

"Before I began, the council had no plans to look at our area," says Robert. "But since my campaign it has spent �70,000 on a feasibility study."

Read the full Action Network story: Opposing garden grabbing

On Simon Thomas' road, developers were offering above-market prices for properties, with plans to build up to 14 homes on each of their substantial gardens.

He learned the ins and outs of planning procedures so he could oppose the developments.

Simon says the hard work has paid off: "Planning applications have been refused twice. I think that was a shock to the developers as they were so convinced they could do what they liked. We've proven that we're not a soft touch."

Read the full Action Network story: Building an eco-village

Campaigner Paul Wimbush is working on a housing development with a difference.

He is part of a project which aims to build an eco-village of 25 sustainable homes in Pembrokeshire.

"We are trying to bring low-impact development to the mainstream and establish it as a viable alternative to modern housing developments," he says.

"We have found that the notion of buying land, building homes and gaining sustenance from the land appeals to many people."

Read the full Action Network story: Fighting for playing fields

Lynne Stam is campaigning to stop luxury flats being built on the last remaining playing field in her town.

She fears that in an area which is short of family homes the development would not even be the kind of housing locals need.

"Seedhill is the only playing field left in Paisley because the council has sold off the others for development," says Lynne.