More than 42,000 new homes were registered in the UK by the National Housebuilding Council (NHBC) in the first three months of the year, according to NHBC’s latest new home registration statistics.

42,470 new homes were registered in Q1, an increase of 17% on the 36,351 registered 12 months ago – resulting in the highest quarter in 10 years.

31,197 homes were registered in the private sector, an increase of 10% on the same period a year ago (28,278), with 11,273 new homes registered in the affordable sector, representing a 40% increase on 2016 numbers (8,073).

For the first time in seven years all 12 regions across the UK experienced growth in registrations, when compared to the same period 12 months ago. The north east, east and London were among the regions with the most notable growth.

NHBC managing director Neil Jefferson said: “These figures, with growth across the entire country, are clearly encouraging for the sector, at a time when there is considerable demand for new, high-quality homes.

“This growth in registrations, in both the private and affordable sector, is welcome news and will result in more newly built homes across the UK over the coming months.”