A HOUSEBUILDER says confidence in home buying is soaring as lockdown restrictions ease.

Barratt Homes Yorkshire West – whose developments include Vision in Keighley and Saxon Dene, Silsden – has seen a whopping 400-per-cent-plus increase in visits to its website from potential purchasers.

And data, from property website Rightmove, shows also that people’s preferences are changing as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

More people are now looking for a home with a large garden, better workspace and fast internet connections rather than good transport links and commuter times.

Ian Ruthven, managing director of Barratt Developments Yorkshire West, said: “It’s great to see confidence in house-buying on the up again.

“We have worked incredibly hard to ensure potential buyers are still able to learn about our developments and tour the showhomes, whether in person with social distancing measures in place, or virtually through our website.”