Lunchtime news April 24

In its response to the Calcutt review of housebuilding, the Council of Mortgage Lenders [downloads PDF] has called for more consultation to avoid mortgagebility problems caused by modern methods of construction and an over-supply of new flats in some areas.

Home loan demand may be slowing down, according to British Bankers Association showing mortgage approvals below the monthly average of the last six months. But the Council of Mortgage Lenders said lending reached another new record in March and was 10% higher than in March 2006. Today’s papers, including The Guardian, see the data as a signal that the housing market is reaching its peak.

The average home costs its owner £11,000 a year to run in mortgage and other essential bills – a 12% rise in the last two years, according to Sainsbury’s Bank reserach reported in the Daily Mail.