A report looking at national planning application trends found that Scotland was the only part of Britain where the number of households seeking to make upgrades to their property in 2015 fell.

There was only one home improvement application for every 100 private home in Scotland last year, half the British average and putting Scotland bottom of the table.

This compares with the home improvement hotspot in London, where there were almost four applications per 100 private residences.

Improvements can include building works such as renovations, extensions and conservatories or converting attics and basements.

The report by construction industry analysts, Barbour ABI, said: “The Scottish home improvement market does appear to be flagging relative to the rest of Britain.

“Planning applications have fallen over the years in Scotland from more than 23,000 in 2011 to below 22,000 in 2015.”

Michael Dall, lead economist at Barbour ABI, added: “As housing transaction activity expands outside of London, and the subsequent positive impact on prices, the rise in home improvement applications is perhaps expected.

“While economic conditions continue to improve the likelihood is that residential planning activity will also follow. Although the economic headwinds have strengthened the reliance on housing as a source of investment should mean that the home improvement market remains buoyant over the next 12 months.”

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