Along with the improved weather, April saw some encouraging indicators that life some is being breathed back into the new homes market from the unprecedented lows seen over the last two years.
During the first quarter of 2010 a total of 31,038 new homes were registered during the period, up from just 17,859 during the same three months of 2009, according to the National House-Building Council (NHBC).
Private developers led the recovery, with the sector registering a 113 per cent jump in registrations year-on-year to 20,538.
Registrations by public sector builders, such as housing associations, rose by 28 per cent during the same period to 10,500.