The housebuilding industry has welcomed the appointment of Mark Prisk as the new housing minister, replacing Grant Shapps, as part of the government reshuffle.

However, the House Builders Federation has also warned the new minister that the acute lack of new homes with which we are faced means he needs to hit the ground running.

Prisk previously held the position of construction minister, and his experience as co-chair of the Green Construction Board should serve him well as the UK moves toward zero carbon housing by 2016 as well as lobbying through the Department for Business on the Green Deal.

NHBC’s executive chairman Isabel Hudson said: “The new Minister has a number of challenges across the sector. As our latest new home registrations statistics revealed, although private sector housing registrations in the UK had their best month for over a year this July, registrations in the sector are still down 10% for May to July 2012, compared to the same period last year.”

“I am proud to answer the Prime Minister’s call to assume the role of Energy Minister at such a crucial time both for our energy security and for tackling climate change," said Hayes.

Hayes, previously Skills Minister, recently announced a relaxation on the governments’ Apprenticeship Grants for Employers (AGE) scheme, giving SME’s who take on apprentices a welcome boost.