<p>The number of planning approvals for new homes granted in the final quarter of last year was 62% higher than the year before, according to the Home Builders Federation's latest Housing Pipeline report.</p> <p>In the three month period to December 2012, local authorities granted approvals for 45,041 new homes in England, 33% up on the previous quarter and the highest quarterly number since Q1 2008 according to the survey compiled by Glenigan.</p> <p>HBF says that the number is still short of the 60,000 required each quarter but the increase is significant as it points to potential improvement in the planning system since the introduction of the National Planning Policy Framework in March 2012.</p> <p>In addition, HBF reports a thawing in the mortgage market, with the number of weekly reservations under NewBuy doubling to 130 so far this year.</p> <p>However the industry says that threats to the market remain and that more needs to be done. At today's HBF Policy Conference and in its Budget submission, HBF will call for robust monitoring of Local Plans; an extension to mortgage schemes such as NewBuy; government reduction in red tape; and an increase in business finance for SMEs.</p> <p>HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley …