The move is part of a strategy to become a purely UK business within the next two years and comes less than a week after the builder secured a complex refinancing package.

JPMorgan Chase is reported to have been hired to advise on the sale of the top ranked North American builder, which is expected to fetch £600m.

Over the past few months, Taylor Wimpey has privately approached US house builders and other potential bidders to gauge their interest in buying Taylor Morrison, according to Reuters news agency.

The US arm Taylor Morrison builds housing in California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and Florida.

At the end of the first half of 2010, Taylor Wimpey said its US housing arm had £454m in net operating assets.