He also plans to give communities a greater say in design and announced plans for a Government and industry Housing Design Summit later this year.

Speaking at the Home Builders Federation annual lunch today, Shapps said: “I want to see the house building industry working hand in glove with local communities.

“I know you feel frustrated waiting for the planning green light. So we’re helping remedy this situation by providing you with a 12 month planning decision guarantee.”

But he called on house builders in turn to respond positively to the National Planning Policy Framework and open consultations earlier about housing plans.

He added: “We’re asking you to think about design.

“Later this year, I’ll be setting out plans to give communities a greater voice and encourage joint working at a Government/Industry Design Summit.”

Shapps also reminded the industry that the Government’s NewBuy mortgage guarantee scheme extended beyond lifting first-time buyers on to the first rung of the property ladder.

He said that the scheme would free “the boxed-in generation” – people unable to upsize their home but who have also outgrown their first property

According to HSBC research, of the 360,000 homeowners who bought their first property in 2007, many are trapped in their first home and unable to move up the property ladder.

The housing minister said: “The NewBuy Guarantee will give our second-time buyers a second chance, as this is the first scheme of its kind not confined to first time buyers, but available to anyone looking to buy a newly-built home.

“We don’t want Britain to be a place of housing have nots, we want people to have room to grow. The NewBuy Guarantee will do just that.”