Mortgage approvals edge up as incentive schemes kick in Mortgage approvals edged up in April, with banks expecting to sign off more loans to would-be homeowners as schemes to help first-time buyers take root. The British Bankers" Association, a trade body for the banking industry, said on Friday that the number of mortgage approvals granted by high street lenders rose from 58,994 to 59,813. The size of the average house purchase approval rose to £155,900 from £152,500 the previous month. The number of approvals remained below the figure for the previous April. However, banks said they expected this to rise further in the coming months as measures to boost activity took effect. "Schemes to assist the mortgage lending market are expected to help more first-time buyers and mortgage chains in due course," the BBA said. George Osborne, the chancellor, unveiled the Help to Buy scheme as part of his March Budget in an attempt to spur lending to first-time homebuyers with small deposits. Net mortgage borrowing - new loans minus repayments on existing mortgages - fell slightly in the year to April, by 0.1 per cent. Net borrowing has remained weak over the past year in part because low interest rates have allowed homeowners to repay more capital on outstanding loans. The volume of riskier lending contracted by a steeper margin: the outstanding level of borrowing unsecured on homes or other assets fell 1.3 per cent. The BBA blamed low consumer confidence for depressing demand.