Housing Minister Grant Shapps has hailed a new partnership between the Government and the National House Building Council (NHBC) to gain a greater insight into how efforts to get Britain building again are making a difference in communities across the country.

In a new deal between the Government and NHBC, Ministers will have access to a wealth of information on the ins and outs of housebuilding - from details of the materials used to build a home, to insights on the journey from the start of the construction process through to the final sale.

NHBC provides warranties for over 80 per cent of the UK's new-build homes. Mr Shapps said that by extending the scope of information they provide, the Government will be able to drill down into the fine detail of the house-building process and understand how government can help to enable the delivery of the homes the country needs.

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The Government has already taken strong action to help unblock the property pipeline. The £400 million Get Britain Building Fund will restart stalled developments while the Mortgage Indemnity Scheme helps first time buyers find the funds they need to buy newly built homes.

Mr Shapps said: "As we look to get Britain building again, we've taken decisive action to bring down the barriers to building with help to get stalled projects back on track, incentives for councils to build and extra support for first-time buyers.

"But there's always more to be done and that's why I'm asking the experts to help us know exactly how the market ticks. NHBC have long worked closely with Government to ensure our numbers are as accurate as possible. I know that today's new partnership will broaden and deepen both our understandings of cause and effect in the housing market and bring new ideas and insights to the fore."

(CD/GK)