In the early 1950s the government set up the Group Building Scheme to encourage the construction of new suburban homes. When not building for a particular client, builders had long built homes on speculation, with the risk that a new home might remain unsold. The government eliminated this risk by promising to buy unsold homes from those registered in the scheme. Many builders signed up. The scheme was also popular with house buyers. House plans were approved by the government, making it easier to secure loan finance, and buyers were reassured that their home was built by a reputable builder.