The British Bankers' Association (BBA) released the number of mortgage approvals in the U.K. on Thursday. The number of mortgage approvals declined to 45,982 in February from 46,900 in January. January's figure was revised down from 47,509.

"Mortgage borrowing remained buoyant in February. It appears that borrowers are continuing to try to get ahead of the increases in stamp duty for buy-to-let and second home buyers scheduled to come into effect next month," the chief economist at the BBA, Richard Woolhouse, said.

He added that consumer confidence was robust.