According to research carried out by Santander, confidence is flooding back into the UK housing market, prompting more than five million people to say they plan to purchase a home within the year.

Around 10% of the population intends to buy a property before October 2014, up from 8% or 3.7m in January 2012.

A third of those intending to buy say they are likely to use the government’s Help to Buy scheme.

Younger people are the most likely to buy, with 18% of those aged 18-34 saying they are likely to purchase a new home.

This is compared to nine per cent of 35-54 year-olds and five per cent of those aged 55 or over.

By region, Londoners are the most confident about their chances of purchasing a home in the next 12 months, with one-in-five believing it is likely they will do so.

Meanwhile, homeowners are confident that house prices will rise this year, with 57% anticipating an increase in the value of their property compared to just 4% predicting a fall in value.

This is a significant increase in confidence since the beginning of 2012, when 29% anticipated a price rise compared to 17% expecting a fall.

Phil Cliff, director of Santander mortgages, said:

“The UK has seen a number of encouraging economic statistics emerging in recent weeks and months and our findings suggest a significant increase in confidence in the housing market.

“Help to Buy is certainly stimulating the market and the extension of the scheme from January 2014 should see existing homeowners who have been unable to move entering the market again.”