Round-up │ 30 January 2014

In Briefing pages: (Economic) BoE mortgage approvals grow at fastest annual rate since 2009 │ (Industrial and political) Government review to explore "innovative financing methods", including using City and local authority pension funds to boost affordable housebuilding │ (Forthcoming events) (Friday) HMRC housing transactions

Quote of the day: "local government pension funds are risk averse. They are cautious beasts and don't like doing new things. Our task is to shine a light on this area and identify barriers to investment", Keith House, co-chair of affordable housing funding review. 

Chart of the day: