The jump builds on a run of better figures for new home starts indicating the house building market is rebounding after slumping to less than 100,000 units in 2012.

In the year to date, registrations are now 26% higher at 43,223 than the corresponding period in 2012.

NHBC Commercial Director Richard Tamayo said: “April’s registration figures, combined with early indications of increased activity in May, build upon the solid volume growth seen in Q1 2013.

“Similar to previous registration figures this year, the upturn can be attributed in part to the Government’s £2.2bn Affordable Homes Programme, which according to housing minister Mark Prisk is on track to deliver the target of 170,000 new homes by 2015.

“We still need to remember, however, in the context of overall new home volumes, that the figures remain significantly below registration levels prior to the economic downturn and the levels the UK urgently requires to meet the needs of its demographic.”

The NHBC’s standard three month rolling total benchmark showed registrations up 25% from February-April.

Of these private sector registrations rose 20% to 24,542 and public sector registrations jumped 42% from its lower base of 6,015 to 8,569.
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