Latest NHBC figures show that the number of registrations to build new homes in October has reached its highest level since July 2008. In all 9,163 applications were made to build new homes in the month while during the three months from August to October 2009 the figure stood at 24,896 – an increase of 27% on the same period last year. Private sector applications led the way in driving up these figures - up 45% to 16,630 from 11,507 for the same period last year. Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC chief executive, said: “It is encouraging that this month’s figures yet again show steady improvement in housebuilding, supporting what many in the industry are saying – that the worst may be over. “However, these figures are still well below the buoyant levels we saw in late 2007 and it is still very difficult to predict when and to what extent recovery will come, especially as we enter the winter period. The coming months will be a testing time for the industry, and it may be some time before we can confidently say that the industry is in recovery.” These NHBC figures are reinforced by Housebuilder’s exclusive Glenigan survey of “who’s planning …