THE number of new homes being registered by housebuilders and developers got off to a positive start this year, industry figures suggest.

More than 37,500 new dwellings were registered between January and March - up three per cent on last year, said the National House Building Council.

The figures are taken from builders who are responsible for around 80 per cent of homes constructed in the UK.

Builders are required to register a house with the NHBC, a warranty and insurance provider, before starting work, which means its figures represent homes to be built in the months ahead.

The NHBC said 37,672 new homes were registered to be built in January to March this year - six per cent down on last year for private sector homes but 36 per cent up on affordable and rented properties.

Some 26,841 homes were registered in the private sector, while 10,831 were registered in the affordable and rented sector in the first quarter of this year.

In the North West 3,968 new homes were registered - down 22 per cent on last year.

In London there were 5,625 home registrations - a 58 per cent jump.

The overall year-on-year increase in homes being registered nationwide is partly due to the severe weather caused by the Beast From The East disrupting building activity last year, said the NHBC.

Steve Wood, chief executive of the National House Building Council, said: "We are pleased to report good numbers for the start of the year, although we do need to bear in mind the situation 12 months ago when freezing conditions caused major hold-ups in registrations as well as build rates across the bulk of the UK."

Meanwhile, figures released by the Bank Of England show the number of mortgages being approved to home buyers fell to a 15-month low in March, as the original Brexit deadline approached.

Some estate agents have reported seeing a pick-up in interest from potential buyers in recent weeks, with the date for departing the European Union now having been extended.