Gross mortgage lending up 21% in March

Gross mortgage lending was an estimated £11.3 billion in March, a 21% rise from £9.3 billion in February and a 2% decline from £11.5 billion in March 2010, according to data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Gross lending for the first quarter of 2011 was therefore an estimated £30.1 billion, an 11% decline from the fourth quarter of 2010 (£33.9 billion) and a 1% increase from £29.7 billion in the first three months of 2010.

Commenting on current market conditions, CML chief economist Bob Pannell said: "The housing market has emerged hesitantly from hibernation. Household finances are under a lot of pressure, and as a result demand for house purchase loans fell in the first three months of 2011. Lenders expect mortgage credit availability to improve this quarter, and this should help to underpin house purchase activity albeit at pretty low levels.

"Remortgage demand, meanwhile, continues to firm, presumably linked to expectations of higher base rates. Remortgage approvals in February were the highest for more than two years. Stronger remortgage activity looks set to continue propping up overall lending."