The survey by Glenigan showed that in the final quarter of 2012 local planning authorities granted permissions for 45,041 new homes in England. This was an increase of 33% from the previous quarter and 62% higher than the number in the final quarter of 2011.
HBF said in a statement that, although the number is still short of the 60,000 quarterly requirement, the increase is "significant" as it points to "potential improvement" in the planning system since the National Planning Policy Framework was introduced in March last year.
However, the HBF said that more still needs to be done to remove the threat to the market. The industry body said that its Budget submission will call for "robust monitoring" of Local Plans, an extension to mortgage schemes such as NewBuy, Government reduction in red tape and an increase in business finance for small and medium enterprises.
"Building the homes we need would take millions of people off social housing waiting lists and enable beleaguered young families to get a foot on the housing ladder," said HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley.
"It could also create half a million new jobs and give the country a massive and much-needed economic boost. We are seeing progress - we now need to maintain it," he said.
