THE number of mortgages approved by banks is running at around one third higher than a year ago as the housing market revival continues to gather pace. Around 37,200 approvals for house purchase worth £5.7 billion got the green light in July, slightly down on a 17-month high of 37,337 the previous month, the British Bankers' Association (BBA) reported. The BBA said the "stronger pattern" seen in the mortgage market since the start of the year has continued into the summer months. Mortgage approvals to home buyers are almost a third (31 per cent) higher than in the same period last year and remortgaging approvals are more than a third (40 per cent) higher. However, overall mortgage lending remains "subdued" because home owners are making high repayments on their loans, the BBA said.