A total of 33 new houses were approved in Scone in 2021, compared to 15 approvals in 2020.

Elsewhere in the Upper Hunter, Singleton saw a similar surge in home approvals, increasing from four total approvals in 2020 to 45 in 2021, an increase of 1025 per cent.

The Muswellbrook local government area recorded 45 new home approvals in 2021 compared to just nine in 2020, an increase of 400 per cent.

The figures indicate detached home activity across the Hunter and Central Coast regions performed strongly in 2021 despite the impact of the COVID pandemic and the end of the HomeBuilder stimulus, according to the Housing Industry Association.

HIA Hunter executive director Craig Jennion said detached dwelling approvals increased by 13 per cent in the Hunter and by 45 per cent on the Central Coast in 2021 compared to 2020.

"Accounting for 65.2 per cent of all approvals in the Hunter and 67.3 per cent on the Central Coast detached homes remain the preference for home buyers locally," Mr Jennion said.

"Over the same period multi-unit approvals also increased by 39 per cent in the Hunter and 30 per cent on the Central Coast compared to the year earlier.

"In total 7,380 approvals were issued for new dwellings across the combined HIA Hunter region during 2021, an increase of 25 per cent from the previous year."

Mr Jennion said overall the Central Coast and Lower Hunter regions had seen the most activity within the residential sector, with the local government areas of Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and Newcastle accounting for nearly 74 per cent of total approvals.

"Regionally Cessnock LGA was again a big mover with total housing approvals increasing by 30 per cent," he said.

The value of approved major renovations and home alterations also saw a significant increase Mr Jennion said, with the value of Hunter approvals increasing by 26 per cent.

Mr Jennion said HIA Hunter forecast residential building activity to remain strong as households remain very active in the market.

"This is evidenced by the strong housing finance data, current low interest rates, rising house prices and strong employment conditions," he said.

"Together this should ensure the demand for new homes remaining solid."