81 % rise in mortgage approvals over the year.

This almost unbelievable figure can be partly explained by the very low levels of mortgage lending over the previous year.
These figures released by the British Banking Association show even after this rise, lending is still a constraining figure for many buyers and developers.
There is much discussion amongst property professionals about the restraining factor lending is having on the property, development and construction industry. Is a lack of available properties to market also a restraining factor? It is after all, difficult to increase lending if there is little stock for purchasers to buy and ultimately borrow against.
Some argue that many very viable development projects have been forced to be either postponed or abandoned due to the shortage of development funding. Some finance companies are conspicuous in their absence from the market. Will they chose to return once the market shows even firmer signs of recovery. One question many property professionals are asking is how will the construction industry cope if there is a sudden demand for builders once finance returns and some of the moth balled sites re-start?