David Fell of Hamptons said this trend had reversed last year because owner-occupiers were more willing to buy off-plan in the face of limited options elsewhere in the market. 

He added: “Typically, these are chain-free homeowners who have more flexibility on moving dates. However, they still don’t buy as far in advance as investors, who are often happy to wait a year or two, particularly when prices are rising. They’re also more likely to seek out bespoke, individually designed houses in smaller schemes, rather than flats in big city centre blocks.”

New homes were most likely to be sold off-plan in the Cotswold District, which became one of the most competitive property markets in the country when buyers flocked there in search of more space and a rural lifestyle. Here, 86pc of new homes completed last year had been sold before they were built.