Housing Minister Kris Hopkins has welcomed news that UK construction output grew by 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year, according to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In a statement last week, the Keighley and Ilkley MP said: “Today’s figures show how our efforts to get Britain building are integral to the Government’s long term economic plan, and in driving the annual 5.4 per cent increase in construction, with house building now at its highest since 2007 and climbing.

“Already we’ve delivered over 420,000 new homes since 2010, including 170,000 affordable homes, while also releasing more surplus, formerly used brownfield land for new homes. But if people can buy homes, builders will build them. That’s why we’ve tackled the deficit we inherited, keeping interest rates at their record low and home ownership more affordable.”

Mr Hopkins said the Government’s Help to Buy scheme have helped more than 27,000 people get on the property ladder with a fraction of the deposit they would normally require with leading developers have said that they’ll build more as a direct result of this increased demand.