The Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have reported that optimism is returning to the property market with the number of people planning to move doubling over the last 12 months.

At the start of 2013 only 7% of those surveyed as part of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks’ Annual Housebuyers Research aimed to move to a new home within the next 12 months, however this has now doubled to 14%.

The largest percentage of those planning to move are in the London area where 18% intend to buy a new home in 2014, closely followed by 17% in both Wales and the Midlands. In contrast only 11% of those surveyed in both Scotland and in the North West have included moving house in their plans for the New Year.

Optimism also remains high that the value of homes will increase in 2014 with only 3% anticipating that the value of their home will drop in 2014 while 48% think it will rise.

Andrew Pearce, retail director for Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, said: “A New Year is traditionally a time for planning and looking ahead and our survey has shown that moving home is again becoming a priority for many people.

“Our Annual Housebuyers Research has also highlighted that this is coupled with sustained confidence in property prices with almost half of those surveyed anticipating that the value of their home is set to increase.”