The research by the House Builders Federation and funded by Halifax plc, requested feedback from prospective homebuyers on their attitudes towards issues such as high density urban living, mixed use and mixed tenure.
The federation stressed the report did not represent its views, but was illustrative of the market in which house builders operate.
A spokesman said: "The great majority view is that there should be more segregation by life stage and social status, not less."
"There was approval, from a minority, of the idea of having a social mix in housing developments in order to avoid having housing ghettos of poorer families."
"Nevertheless the majority view were not in favour of mixed housing communities. The majority of people preferred to live near communities like themselves."
Housing associations said the research showed how far perceptions still needed to be changed.
"It's certainly true that the image of social housing needs some improving. People tend to think of it generally as rented housing because of the make up of those occupying it," said Chris Cheeseman a director at Moat home ownership.
He said more mixed developments were needed to improve perceptions of social housing as a tenure of last re sort.
Metropolitan Home Ownership head of shared ownership Mike Johnson said he was not surprised by the findings.
He said: "We face difficulties with the 'perception' of what affordable housing is or might be. In many ways the views of prospective purchasers are not a surprise."
"It is the role of RSLs in provision of affordable homes, whether for rent or low cost sale, to provide homes in developments which are designed to make them attractive enough for people to want to live in them. This should be regardless of the income of the prospective purchaser or the value of the property."
Source
Housing Today
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