House sales in Sheffield and North Derbyshire could be on track for a 15 per cent increase in the coming year.

That's according to Blundells director Ian Appleyard who says the end of 2009 saw house prices, sales and lending nationwide slowly rising indicating a more positive year ahead for the housing market.

Said Ian: “The predictions are looking very good for 2010. We saw house prices in Sheffield and North Derbyshire leveling out in 2009 and there have been reports of slight house price increases across the country from month to month.

“Sales in 2009 were also far more positive than both, we at Blundells, and the industry had predicted. The year finished on a high for us with a particularly buoyant December, which is a good indication for the market this year.

“Lending was in the region of £140 billion in 2009 and, at recent national conference we attended, two of the major lenders, who between them have a 40 per cent market share, were talking about this increasing to £160 billion in 2010 which is a 15 per cent increase. Based on this we would hope to see a knock on effect and a 15 per cent increase in house sales for the coming year.

“However, this figure in 2007 was a massive £360 billion so there is some way to go before we get back to those levels, if indeed we ever do.

“Steady increases are what the industry needs and this will make the housing market more sustainable for the future. We are very hopeful about the year ahead”, added Ian.